THE Armagh CCC are set to consider a set of proposals to finish out the 2020 season later this month – including an ambitious plan to extend it.
A suggestion from former Orchard minor manager Paul Doyle, who is now in charge of Keady, would see the 10-game 2020 league season extended to 14 matches. With most teams having played around six games, it would leave eight league games left to complete the season with the 2021 leagues cancelled as a result.
That would mean promotion and relegation would be decided after 14 games while the proposal also takes into account that last year’s championship winners need to be accommodated.
Clan na Gael were Intermediate champions and Forkhill won Junior, and in this system the bottom team in 1B and 2B after seven games would play in the lower championship for 2021. That would also allow them seven games to regain their status for the 2022 season.
At the end of January, Armagh released four possible proposals to finish the 2020 league season ranging from finishing it as a standalone campaign to voiding it altogether.
They also welcomed proposals from clubs and officials that were due to be discussed at a county board meeting earlier this week. That meeting is now expected to take place later in the month.
Understandably, the issue has been a cause of much debate in the Orchard county with clubs in danger favouring the void option and teams in good positions wanting to see the season concluded.
Doyle’s proposal of a halfway house may gain some traction.
The four options released by the county board in January were as follows:
Option one:
Commencing in mid-April/May, priority would be given to the 2020 leagues before the 2021 season begins. The 2021 leagues would include one round of fixtures, seven games for senior and intermediate leagues and possibly more in the junior division. The group stage championship would return following the knockout format used in 2020.
Option two:
Commencing in late-May/June, the 2020 league would be voided with last year’s Intermediate (Clan na Gael) and Junior (Forkhill) Championship winners promoted. The 2021 leagues would include one round of fixtures while the championship would include a group format.
Option three:
Commencing in late-June/July, the 2020 league would be voided, the 2021 league would be one round of fixtures and a knock-out championship would remain in place.
Option four:
Commencing later than the other three options, the 2020 league would be voided, the 2021 league would not take place and there would be a group championship.
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