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I would like to start off by wishing everybody well for the year ahead. The CCAO can boast a long and valued tradition, the Ashbourne competition being the longest running competition in the entire Camogie Association. However having a long and distinguished past is good but we need to be very mindful of the future. The CCAO looked at our entire structures from freshers, leagues and championships to see if they fit the colleges needs. There are many challenges facing college camogie, from increasing academic pressures, finance, the decreasing calender available for games and of course the weather. With these challenges in mind the CCAO put forward some minor changes to the leagues and some rather large changes to the championship format.
At the AGM on the 8th of October it was put forward to the colleges to have three groups per league. Over the past few years, especially at division two, there were too many teams for two groups and too few for four groups. Instead the three groups allows for a good mix between number of matches and calendar before Christmas. This year will see three groups of three in Division 1, where a determined and fast progressing DCU side have made the step up.
The biggest changes for the year ahead however are in the championship. This year will see a new look championship format. The Ashbourne will be made up of six teams instead of eight. These six teams are divided into two groups of three. Each team will have two matches. The top two in each group will go through to the cup semi finals while the bottom team in each group will play in the final of the Ashbourne Shield.
Similarly the Purcell competition will take the same format as the Ashbourne; two groups of three, the top two in each group will go through to the cup semi finals while the bottom team in each group will play in the final of the Purcell Shield.
The Fr. Meachair competition will also take the same format as the Ashbourne; two groups of three, the top two in each group will go through to the cup semi finals while the bottom team in each group will play in the final of the Fr. Meachair Shield.
The reinvented O’Mhaolagain Cup makes a welcome return. The remaining teams not in the first three championships will play in a Blitz format O’Mhaolagain championship.
The main motivation for changing this was a number of one-sided matches, especially in the Purcell cup where there were 14 teams of varying strengths competing. This new structure gives a pathway for success as all four tiers are linked. The winners of the O’Mhaolagain will play runners up of the Fr. Meachair Shield the following year to determine promotion and relegation. Similarly the Fr. Meachair Cup winners will play the Purcell Shield runners-up and the Purcell Cup winners will play the Ashbourne Shield runners-up the following year to determine promotion/relegation. This new structure may not be perfect and it will take time to adjust but it consists of four competitive championship tiers that every team can have a realistic chance of achieving.
At the AGM it was also announced that the Third Level Camogie Bursarys would continue for the coming college year. These scholarships recognise the contribution players have to the administration and promotion of our game within their universities and local area. Without the players being involved in the day to day running of the club there is no doubt that the clubs struggle to exist. Make sure to get in your application as the closing date is the 4th of November! For further information click here.
Finally I wish every college all the best for the coming year
Is Mise
Shane O'Dorchaidhe
