Westmeath GAA vote sparks fury as delegates cry foul

A virtual meeting of the Westmeath GAA County Committee on Wednesday last, August 14 has ignited a firestorm of controversy over the Junior 2 football championship format. The meeting, attended by 53 delegates, was marked by confusion, accusations of unfairness, and deep frustration among club representatives.

At the heart of the dispute was the decision to maintain the single-group format of six teams as decided at a meeting on July 23. Under rule, a 60% majority was needed to change the one-group format after some junior clubs raised concerns. The matter was not on the agenda for the July 23 meeting, leaving the decision open to challenge.

The process on Wednesday, however, left many delegates questioning the vote. Michael Kelly from Delvin didn't mince words, calling the voting process a "shambles."

The confusion began when delegates were asked to vote by raising 'virtual hands'—a method that proved unreliable. Votes were reported inconsistently, with counts ranging from 31 to 35 in favour of reverting to two groups.

Ultimately, the vote was recorded at 31, just shy of the 32 required to change the format.

The fallout was immediate. Christy Keenan of Loughnavalley was particularly vocal, criticising the clubs that had withdrawn from the championship, leaving others in a difficult position. Despite calls for a re-vote, Chairman Frank Mescall stood firm, dismissing the idea and sparking further unrest.

As the Junior 2 championship proceeds with its one group format, the controversy is far from over. The dissatisfaction among delegates suggests this decision will continue to cast a shadow over the competition, raising concerns about fairness and the future of the championship.

The online 'Teams' meeting showed 61 in attendance near the end which only adds to the overall confusion.