CCC chairman David McLoone content with how fixtures were rolled out

David McLoone says that the Covid-19 pandemic was still very much to the fore of the Donegal Competition Controls Committee’s minds when they initially set about constructing their adult fixtures calendar for 2022.   

The county vice-chairman, who also holds the CCC chairman’s brief, explained that provisions previously made to get through a difficult 2021 season also had to then subsequently be factored into that decision making. 

In his annual report to convention, the Aodh Ruadh clubman said: “We started the year with the Covid 19 pandemic very much still part of our lives and we were mindful of the potential impacts that could have arisen over the course of the year.

“As a result of the decision to have no relegation in 2021, in light of the pandemic, a new look for the season was inevitable. Clubs were invited to make submissions and proposals, which led to the CCC developing a number of league and championship options”. 

Ahead of the 2022 campaign, it was decided to reduce the number of All-County League tiers from four to three. Each league consisted of 13/14 teams with a minimum of 12 games for each club. 

McLoone explained that this allowed sides the opportunity to request free weekends to cater for things like holidays etc. The impact of the split season also meant that the previously thorny issue of playing league games without county players was taken out of their hands. 

“The majority of the league fixtures were played without intercounty players with the new split season coming into effect this year,” he added. “This will be the new norm where clubs can expect to play most, if not all, of the league campaigns without county players.”

In regards to our championship structures, McLoone believes the initial league formatted stages were well received and a success. 

“The 2022 Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure football championships ran off very well in what has proven to be a favourable format by nearly all clubs, starting with the league format of two home and two away games leading to standings for eight teams to progress to quarter-finals.”

Referees 

In regards to incidents of indiscipline or disrespect towards our games’ match officials, McLoone believes there are some clubs within the county that simply need to do more in terms of raising the standard of behaviour in this area. 

“A big thank you to the panel of referees who officiated throughout the season. It was great to see the respect campaign get a fresh launch in light of some of the dreadful instances of abuse towards referees we saw around the country, and we weren’t immune to it in our own county either. 

“Our referees put in a huge effort and without them we would have no games. There are a number of clubs in the county that are still not providing a single referee to our games. That must change. 

“Those clubs cannot continue to depend on others to provide them with referees. Often it is those same clubs who complain about the standard of refereeing who do nothing to help the situation”.