COMMENT: Take a bow Noel as new Kildare Championship format passes without a word

As we exited Cedral St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, on Tuesday evening last, after the February gathering of clubs of the county had concluded after some ninety minutes or so, a delegate commented: “it's not what it used to be, we are really only rubber stamping what has already been agreed.”

Little discussion, no debate and if there was no discussion last Tuesday with some major proposals on the agenda, one feels there will rarely be in the future.

A big turnout though, most clubs represented, as we got under way, with the usual formalities.

First day out for two sitting at the top table, secretary Lorraine Wolfe, just back from topping up her tan, was in her new position as secretary; while Rory McGrath, Communications Officer, was attending his first Kildare county board gathering in his new role.

Off we went: Caragh sought for permission to apply for a loan for €800,000 which was approved; Louise Conlon said all signage at Conleth's remain on board for 2026 while bursar, Alan Dunney, gave an update on the first quarterly financial situation, deemed satisfactory; Club Kildare came in for special praise following the very successful Business Lunch a couple of weeks ago with Ollie Ryan picking up some big kudos.

Next up, came what this scribe expected would generate some debate, possibly even some heated debate.

What was up for discussion, or to be a bit more blunt about it, what was up for approval, was the proposed changes to the senior, intermediate and junior football championships along with similar proposals for the senior, inter-
mediate and junior hurling championships.

The man leading the committee that looked into this, the affable Noel McKenna, Chairman of the CCC.
First thing to say is there is no doubt a lot of time has gone into what has been proposed, for competitions that certainly needed a revamp, most being of the opinion that there are simply too many clubs at the senior and intermediate level, way too many.

So a good debate would surely be on the cards.
Not so.

Noel went through, with graphics, the proposals before they were put to the floor.
Chairman Mick Mullen had indicated that he had two tellers selected in the event of a tight vote, no doubt he was anticipating something along the lines of yours truly.

He, and I, were both wrong.

Proposal No. 1 (see page opposite) on a hand count was passed, as far as I could see, with all hands in the air.
Proposal No. 2, again the hands went up.

Unanimous.
Not a single query.
Not a single comment.
Not a single dissenting voice.

Holy God I say to meself, Noel McKenna and his committee, would seem to have their collective fingers on the pulse of every club in the county.

Or, maybe, I say to myself, Noel and his crew, might have come to the conclusion that there is more than one way of skinning a cat.

Club delegates of today, seem just happy to go along with any proposal coming from the top table; and the proposers were, no doubt, fully aware of that, even John Flood failed to query anything here.

Now the Rathcoffey delegate did earlier ask the same Noel McKenna to try and avoid playing finals at the same time something that occurred in two U23 finals at the back end of last season. It seems Mr Flood had two grandsons in action, playing on two different teams, and as he said himself, trying to keep tabs on both games more or less saw him missing what went on in both of them.

Noel, smiled, as he does, said he would do his best next time.
Did I hear a bit of a giggle in the room?

But back to the real debate, or lack there of, there was a time when such proposals would command major discussion.
Think of Jim Clarke.
Think of Mick Leavy.
Think of Joe Moore.
Think of Frank Duffy.

And that is only to mention a few former delegates.
Holy Moses those lads would have questioned, queried, dissected, and forensically examined, line by line each and every one of those proposals.

There was probably more time spent on the night, checking up on who was present, who was representing what club, than there was on proposals that will change the various championships for the next three seasons.

Twelve teams would probably be the ideal number but these proposals go further and will quickly reduce participation to eight, with clubs still of the belief they are playing senior and intermediate football, which they will be, but after a couple of games they will be in a B division.

Ingenious proposal, I have to say, that keeps everyone happy, not that many of the delegates would probably have realised that!

We move on to AOB and Chairman Mullen informed the meeting the board had employed an architect to draw up plans re an all-weather pitch, additional dressing rooms, along with some other improvements at the COE.

Wow. Another big decision, another big announcement.
Delegates took in their stride though, no questions, no queries.

Looks like that delegate's views as we exited the meeting were correct and right.
But whose fault is that!

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