This article is from page 56 of the 2011-08-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 56 JPG
CLUBS in Clare have rejected calls for the establishment of a reserve team league.
At last week’s Clare District Soccer League AGM, Lifford AFC put forward two motions calling for club B teams to play in separate league and cup competitions.
In a detailed presentation, Lifford delegate John O’Neill argued the case in favour of a reserve league.
He said the present system is a source of friction within clubs as teams are often competing for players and trophies. “Rivalry displaces unity of purpose”, he added. He said that B teams should be used to develop young players
O’Neill said that no other sport allows B teams, adding that the formation of a reserve league “would be healthy for clubs” and “would definitely increase participation”. He added that by tabling the motion, Lifford were not setting out to “demonise anyone involved in B teams”.
However delegates from a number of the 50 clubs represented at the meeting expressed strong opposition to the proposal.
New CDSL Chairman, Donie Garrihy said it was his opinion that “grievances” between A teams and B teams “are in-house issues for individual clubs”.
A representative of Bridge United, whose B team contested the Clare Cup finals in 2010 and 2011, said the issue of B teams should be dealt with “in-house” by club committees. “I think it would be a big disappointment to put in a reserve league. Players will drift to other clubs. That’s happening already”, he warned.
Mark Moloney of Hermitage AFC echoed these sentiments. He told the meeting that in Hermitage, the A team manager gets priority on players. “The club comes first”, he added. Lifford’s motion was seconded by Kilmaley Fern Celtic. The motion was subsequently defeated by 47 votes to 3.