The scheduling of games, provision of referees and underage competitions age grades are some of the issues highlighted in the Competitions Control Committee’s report to Convention.

On the matter of scheduling of games, Committee secretary, Phil Flanagan believes that an additional two extra weeks are required for the championship window, citing problems with this year’s tight schedule.

“The window available to us to schedule the championship was very tight with an unexpected downpour causing a late postponement to one of the group games in the Senior Football Championship, which forced the Quarter Finals and Semi Finals to be pushed back by a week, when there was just no space available in the 2023 calendar for postponements or replays. The fact that Fermanagh’s Senior and Intermediate winners were playing the First Round of the Ulster Club Championship once more added an extra pressure to this scheduling.

“We would strongly support the motion to Ulster Convention that the format of the Ulster Club Championship draw mirrors that of the Inter County Championship, with any county drawn out in the First Round being given a bye for the next two years, to reduce the recurrent scheduling pressure on the same counties over and over again.

“We also need to find an additional two weeks for the championship window to ease the pressure on players, management teams, referees and volunteers, as well as giving a chance to reschedule any postponed games or to play replays,” said Flanagan.

However, he acknowledges that there is difficulties with this as those two weeks will need to come from the league window and might necessitate the removal of the SFL finals or playing more league games without county players.

On the provision of referees, Flanagan stressed that there is not enough active referees in the county and had warned that clubs who do not have an active referee face starting the 2024 season without home advantage.

“We still do not have enough active referees in the county. As is set out in the Competition Regulations, each club must meet the basic target set for the provision of referees. In 2023, we came very close to removing home advantage for the Championship from some clubs due to non-compliance. However, each club provided reasonable assurances that improvements were being made.

“A word of caution - any club that does not have at least one active and available referee, who has passed all the appropriate requirements by the start of the adult club season will start 2024 without home advantage and that will remain the case until sufficient progress has been made.

“But going forward, one referee is not sufficient to meet the increased number of games taking place across the GAA, in football and hurling, and the LGFA.We would therefore encourage clubs to identify potential referees urgently and get them lined up for training over the winter months,” he added.

On Reserve football, Flanagan has also asked the question as to whether it would be beneficial to move to three divisions in the Erne Cup.

“There is also merit in exploring whether moving to three division in the Erne Cup would be worthwhile. We currently have 21 teams participating in this competition, with further scope for additional entries.

“Some of the results and the volume of conceded games against perceived ‘stronger teams’ point to the need to consider this. If agreeable, a conversation can also be had on whether this could begin immediately in 2024 or left to 2025.”

The structure of underage competitions is set to be a hot topic in the coming weeks with Fermanagh to make a decision on whether to stick with odd age grades or move like the rest of Ulster to even age grades.

“Another thorny subject that needs discussed is what we are going to do with underage age grades going forward.

“In our opinion, this is not a black and white issue. There are upsides and downsides to either approach and a decision based on facts needs to be made that meets the needs of our players, clubs and the wider association.”

He added: “Finding a solution to this is not straightforward and no matter what decision is taken, there will be downsides to it. Given that playing an U16, U17 or U18 competition in the early part of the year seems not to be a realistic proposal, a discussion needs to be had on whether playing an U15 competition at this time of the year is an acceptable workaround.”