Kiltha Óg left concerned and frustrated with new regulations regarding amalgamations

The impending changes around the participation of independent teams at under-age levels in Cork have left Kiltha Óg fearing what lies ahead.

The creation of a new framework regulating the instances of merged sides playing under a single banner – it is envisaged that, outside of U13-U18, combined teams will only be allowed in very rare circumstances – was finalised at the September meeting of Cork County Board, following lengthy debate at the August gathering.

For more than two decades, Castlemartyr and Dungourney have operated together at juvenile grades but the new system is likely to affect them. Séamus Lawton, who has been involved at various levels, along with Castlemartyr adult teams, says there is a lot of concern in the area.

“We’re kind of in a state of shock, really,” he says.

“It’s a parish team – Mogeely is the name of the parish. We’re officially together as Kiltha Óg since 2003, but previous to that combination teams would have played under different names, all the way to back to the 1960s.

“This came out of the blue, really. It might have been brought up at county board level that they were looking at things but it was never really flagged to us until before that [August] meeting.”

Given the longevity of the Castlemartyr-Dungourney partnership across all age-grades, there is much uncertainty as to the logistics of any changes, not to mention the splitting up of units that have been together up to now.

“The feeling is one of frustration,” Lawton says.

“I’m back involved the last couple of years with the U12s and U14s and the young lads are quite upset, which is the hardest part of all of this.

“They start at U6 and make friends and play together right up to U18 – and then we go our separate ways.

“We can appreciate that the county board and Rebel Óg have done unbelievable work at under-age and they have to look at things, but there was no consultation.

“We’re at the mercy of the monitoring committee now and, with no communication, we’re at a loss as to why.

“Retention of numbers would have been one of the things that was said and we would feel that we have worked very hard, over the last 22 years as Kiltha Óg, to make sure that every boy gets a chance to play hurling.

“That’s always been our ethos, that every boy going to school in Castlemartyr or Dungourney can get the chance to play hurling and that happens.”

And, while the red, green and gold jersey has been the badge of honour for younger players, there are never identity issues when they reach adulthood.

“I know that the committee are concerned about making sure club identity is lost but we’ve never had that problem,” Lawton says.

“There were four teams from the adult clubs involved last weekend – and Castlemartyr were even playing Dungourney in junior B – and all the young fellas knew who they were shouting for!

“Soccer is a big attraction now and a lot of the lads play for Mogeely, so they’re together there too, and we work closely with the soccer club to accommodate that.

“We don’t know what they’re proposing but they’re talking about an 11-year-old playing U14 – it’s back to a health-and-safety issue then again and parents might be reluctant to allow that, especially when lads can play soccer at their own age.

“It’s very upsetting for parents, because their kids are worried that they can’t play with their friends anymore and they’re wondering why.”