Seems to be a spate of walkovers over the past few weeks. Does anyone know why this is? Recession/imigration, poor planning on behalf of the clubs/fixtures committee. I know my own club had to give a team a walkover in the b league a couple of weeks ago. It being a mid week game and being asked to travel to the opposite end of the county didnt help but I think we should have done better in trying to get a team out, myself included.
I think some of it comes out of the stop/start nature of the GAA season in Meath. I see the difficulty with organising the "A" competitions due to uncertain county fixtures and hurling but surely it's much easier to arrange a schedule of junior B-D and B league fixtures throughout the season.

GoalsWinGames (Meath) - Posts: 322 - 10/07/2012 13:09:47    1213635

I think a lot of clubs have players living in Dublin who struggle to make it down for matches at 7.30 during the week... there is a big enough cost associated travelling home from Dublin with the cost of fuel and tolls etc. I know a couple of players in my club who arent overly pushed about travelling home to play Junior C or B-league matches during the week and if another couple of players are unavailable for various reasons then we are really struggling.

In fairness the Co. Board is doing their best to run the fixtures off fairly quickly this year but its very hard to find a time that suits everyone because not all matches can be played on a Friday and Saturday evening.

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 483 - 10/07/2012 14:02:58    1213711

My club seem to be struggling to field in the lower grades too. Emigration has played a part. Just as big an issue is lads living and working away from home, mainly Dublin. A lad working in an office somewhere around south Dublin till 5.30 will be hard pushed to get back to Meath Hill/Ballinabracky/Moylough for 7.30 (for a Junior C, Junior D or B-League game). I know its hard to get all the fixtures played off on weekends but surely with better planning games could be played off on Fri/Sat or Sunday?

InTheLoop (Meath) - Posts: 147 - 10/07/2012 16:47:05    1213979