Seamus Duke
The Roscommon GAA Club Championships in football and hurling will begin on the Bank Holiday weekend (July 31st-August 3rd). The format will be similar to last year, with just one small change (see below). This decision was made by the County Board’s Fixtures Committee last week. The proposals will need to be ratified by the clubs at a County Board meeting next Monday night, but that looks set to be a formality.
There will be championship action on all four days of the Bank Holiday weekend. The draw for all championships will be made on Monday, June 29th, and will be streamed live on the Roscommon GAA Facebook page.
The football format will be three groups of four teams, with the top two in each group qualifying for the quarter-finals and the best two third-placed teams also qualifying for the last eight. That will be decided on scoring difference. This is the only change – last year there were play-offs to decide the remaining two quarter-final places.
In the event of a draw, quarter-finals and semi-finals will go to extra-time if necessary. If the game remains level after extra-time, the outcome will be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Extra-time will be applicable in the county finals, but if the teams are level after that, there will be a replay.
Brian Carroll, Chairperson of the Fixtures Committee, said: “Regrettably there won’t be any leagues this year because there is only a short timeframe in which to run our competitions, and we want to give the Junior ‘B’ teams a chance to play a championship. We hope to run the U-20 championship as well later on in the year.
“The new arrangements will be tough, with every club having to appoint a Covid supervisor to oversee the regulations. There will be a Covid officer with every club team which will be a huge challenge especially when we come to underage teams – but we are hopeful that it will work out”.
On the issue of whether or not spectators would be permitted to attend, Mr. Carroll said that the County Board is awaiting direction.
“We also have to think of our referees and umpires, (other) match officials, and gate collectors. But we are very hopeful that we can get going as planned on July 31st. There are a lot of people in clubs – players and officials and fans too – who are very anxious to get back into action. We have to make sure that we follow all the guidelines and do everything right”.
