Club wants All-Ireland final Sundays kept free of local games

A call by the St Malachy’s to have no games on All-Ireland Sundays in Westmeath was ruled out of order as it would restrict the powers of the Competitions Control Committee (CCC) who are charged with fixing matches.

“St. Malachy’s propose the motion that no club games are fixed within the county for All-Ireland Sunday for either Hurling or Football. It is unfair on both players and supporters that wish to enjoy the biggest day in the GAA calendar to ask them to be fulfil a championship fixture for their club.

“St. Malachy’s proposed this motion for the 2022 convention. However, yet again, we were fixed for a game on All-Ireland Sunday despite having five county panellists who could avail of tickets through their commitment to Westmeath GAA earlier in the season,” the motion stated.

Seamus Ennis formally put forward the motion and it was seconded by Maurice Duncan, Milltownpass.

Marty Dalton, Castletown Geoghegan, a sister club of St Malachy’s, was in agreement, pointing out that county players are entitled to acquire All-Ireland tickets, but having games on that day prevents them from doing so.

Chairman Frank Mescall agreed with the sentiments of the motion, but felt the CCC couldn’t be tied to it.

“On a football weekend, for instance, we need Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We have clubs with four teams involved; the number of grounds, the number of referees that we need to have a round of championship (is huge), especially football. We will have two weekends affected if we go with this. We will do our utmost to implement the sentiments of it, but we would ask not to tie the hands of the CCC,” he said.

The motion could not go to a vote, but the importance of the All-Ireland finals are recognised, the chairman explained. “We will do everything in our power not to have games on the Sunday of the All-Ireland football and hurling finals,” he said. He could not guarantee it, though.

Seamus Ennis accepted the decision.