*Crusheen veteran Gerry O’Grady is among the players now entitled to automatic regrading. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
That a maximum of five players shall be regraded from one grade of competition to another in any one year is to continue for 2024.
In a change, any applications within that 5 from players who are 40 years of age and over on January 1 or who have not played any championship hurling for the two previous years, will be automatically approved.
Proposing the motion, Crusheen’s Kieran O’Donnell said “this does not seek to increase the number being re-graded. There is no hidden agenda here and it is for hurling and football”.
Earlier a proposal from St Joseph Miltown’s Frank Minogue asking that players 38 years or older on January 1 who did not play championship at any adult level in the previous calendar year, be automatically regraded to the lowest adult team within the club was lost.
Pointing out that passing this motion could potentially see players skip two grades, Colm Browne of the Master Fixtures Committee asked if the proposal was in order.
Replying Kieran Keating clarified “you can only be regraded one grade in a year”. “This is contrary to general rule 2, St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s Dan O’Connor pointed out.
A proposal from Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick which said “so as to make the grading system more efficient, a list of 15 players is named at each grade at the start of the season”, was referred to the hurling review committee.
Amending the forward mark
St Joseph’s Miltown were successful in getting support for a proposal to have the forward mark amended to have the receiving player within the 20 m line when catching the ball. This will be forwarded to Congress.
