Key underage grades in Cork club GAA to remain unchanged for 2020

THE key underage grades in Cork club GAA for 2020 will remain unchanged due to uncertainty over national policy.

It had been flagged up recently that the Cork County Board were recommending a change at minor level on Leeside from U18 to U17, in line with the inter-county grades for the past two summers. 

The knock-on effect would have been U13 and U15 taking over from U14 and U16 as the other primary competitions in Cork.

A statement from Rebel Óg explained they had "decided not to change the age groups for Rebel Óg competitions for 2020 so the competitions next year will be run in the same age brackets as 2019. Minor will still be U18 with U16 and U14 the main age group competitions. 

"As usual teams will be 13 or 15 a side depending on team numbers. Entry forms for 2020 will be issued before the end of September with a return date for mid-October." 

The Cork County Board already stated that switching to U17 would "be beneficial to underage games in Cork".

An email sent to clubs from CEO Kevin O'Donovan conceded that they would have to hold off on proposed changes.

"Due to uncertainty with regard to recommendations emerging from the national body, the Cork GAA strategic group has decided to withdraw proposals to change the main age grades at Club level in 2020 to U17, U15 and U13.

"The status quo will remain for 2020 in the absence of clarity, nationally. A presentation on age grades by the National Games Development Committee will follow at Special Congress on October 19, so hopefully that will bring more clarity for 2021 and beyond."