Cork GAA talking points: Key vote on minor grades while Sars continue worrying trend

SARS STRUGGLE:

It was no surprise that Sarsfields fell short in the Munster championship away to Ballygunner, one of the favourites for the All-Ireland. 

The manner of defeat was alarming though, managing just 0-9 and shipping 2-20. Aaron Myers, Cian Darcy and Jack O'Connor battled gamely but Sars were outmuscled in every sector at Walsh Park.

Cork's modern record in the provincial arena is woeful, only Glen Rovers even reached a final since Newtown's last success in 2009. There's no direct correlation to inter-county, given Sars don't backbone the Rebel team but it adds to the narrative that Cork hurling doesn't have the hard edge required to beat the best.

There's long been criticism on Leeside that the refereeing is too fussy but in recent county finals, the officials did let the action flow. And Cork clubs are regularly to the fore at junior and intermediate, which makes the senior malaise all the more frustrating.

MAJOR MOVE:

At a special meeting of the Cork County Board on Tuesday night, delegates will vote to determine if minor reverts to U18 in 2024.

If it goes through, Cork clubs will be allowed to use players turning 18 next year for their Junior A teams, but not from Premier Junior up to Premier Senior. The board will not allow an U18 minor competition that crosses over with senior round-robin action to avoid player burnout and fixture congestion.

The decision to reduce the minor grade to U17 was introduced at inter-county for 2018 and forced through for clubs three seasons ago. 

While the likes of Galway and Tipp managed to run popular U19 competitions, there wasn't the will or appetite for that grade to function in Cork. 

It accelerated player drop-off and was ill-conceived by the GAA committee that proposed it. With the majority of teens now in school until the year they turn 19, there's a more natural flow to traditional U14, U16 and U18 primary grades.

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE:

Aghabullogue's perfect season concluded with a victory over Mitchelstown in the Páirc, adding an Intermediate A football county to their hurling triumph. After some harrowing defeats across the last decade, they'll party hard in Coachford this week.

Newcestown can emulate them if they beat Dohenys on Sunday, after their thrilling win over Blarney in the SAHC hurling decider.