Celtic Challenge A Successful Blueprint?
Last weekend the Celtic Challenge hurling competition for under 17 hurlers drew to a close with Finals Day at Netwatch Cullen Park and Garvaghey in Tyrone.
With interchange subs, regionalised teams to ensure competitive games, bonus point scoring, and a minimum of six competitive games, has the GAA devised a new competition structure to use in other competitions?
At the very minimum, as a new departure from the GAA’s traditional competition structures, does the format of the Celtic Challenge offer a blueprint for underage participation in the years ahead in both codes?
Players at all levels want meaningful competitive games and the Celtic Challenge is structured in such a way so that is achieved, and also it is designed to ensure that teams get a minimum of six games on protected scheduled dates. The result? 1400 players and 155 games, immeasurable enthusiasm and high quality hurling.
Targeting 16 & 17 Year old Hurlers
The Celtic Challenge targets 16 and 17 year-old hurlers not sitting State Examinations this summer. 47 teams from all 32 counties played across eight groups organised on a geographical and developmental basis. The format features county (21) and regional teams (26) within counties.
Best and Fairest Awards
After every match the Referee and match officials select a player from each team to receive the 'Best & Fairest Award' on the basis that they displayed:
• a high level of skill and endeavour;
• respect towards match officials;
• respect towards fellow players;
• respect toward the playing rules.
Finals Day
Five of the six divisional finals were played on Saturday, June 24th at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, the sixth was played at Garvaghey in Tyrone. The Carlow based matches were streamed live on Youtube, and we have included the links to each match below. They are worth watching, the standard of hurling is exceptional.
Division One Final - Corn Michael Hogan
South Tipperary 2-11 Galway Maroon 0-16
Best & Fairest Award:
Enda Egan, Galway Maroon
Eoghan Connolly, Tipperary South
Division Two Final - Corn John Scott
Antrim 2-17 North Cork 1-12
Best & Fairest Award
Seán Elliott, Antrim
Jamie Copps, North Cork
Division Three Final - Corn William Robinson
Down 3-11 - Dublin Plunkett 1-11
Best & Fairest Award:
Ronan Costello, Down
Cian McHugh, Dublin Plunkett
Division Four Final - Corn Jerome O'Leary
South East Limerick 3-18 - Carlow 2-16
Best & Fairest Award:
Kevin Curran, Carlow
Mikey Duggan, Limerick South/East
Division Five Final - Corn Michael Feery
Roscommon 2-15 - Armagh 0-13
Best & Fairest Award:
Stephen McKearney, Armagh
James Cunniffe, Roscommon
Division Six Final - Corn Tom Hogan
Tyrone 0-14 Fermanagh 1-10
Cups Commemorate Bloody Sunday Victims
The Celtics Challenge trophies were named after six of the victims from among the 14 people that were killed at Croke Park on Bloody Sunday on November 21st, 1920. The cups have been dedicated to the memory of 24 year old Michael Hogan, John William Scott who was aged 14; boys William Robinson aged 11 and Jerome O’Leary aged 10, as well as 40 year old Michael Feery and Tom Hogan who was 21 years old. The trophies and medals were sponsored by the Past Hurlers’ Association.
The O’Neills Celtic Challenge Jersey
All players received a unique bespoke Celtic Challenge jersey as a memento of the competition. The jerseys were designed exclusively for each of the 47 teams and are sponsored by O’Neill’s.
Interchange Subs
The Celtic Challenge used an interchange substitutes policy to ensure every player on a squad can be involved in a game.
Bonus Point Scoring
In the group stages a team that scored two or more goals were awarded a bonus point, and a defeated team that lost by five points or less also received a bonus point.