There was welcome news for Junior teams in Kilkenny recently with confirmation that the 2020/21 cup competitions will be completed this summer.
Speaking to KCLR’s Scoreline on Saturday, KDL Honorary Secretary Tom Mullins explained which competitions would be returning and why there is no such return to competitive action for schoolboys or schoolgirls.
“We decided that at Junior level we would play off the McCalmont Cup, Divisional Cups and the Maher Shield. That will return on June 10.
“We eventually came to the decision that schoolboys and schoolgirls games could not be played because there were simply too many games to be played and we didn’t have the time,” said Mullins.
With 230 schoolboy teams and 50 schoolgirl teams registered with the KDL, it seems that a fresh start for the 2021/22 season was the only feasible option available to the KDL.
Mullins also expanded on the interest there is amongst Junior teams to return in June.
He said: “We have 36 Junior teams affiliated to the league and we have 31 teams prepared to return, so it’s great to see that there will be such a strong turn out once the game return in June.”
The KDL Honorary Secretary affirmed that there will be no friendly fixtures allowed to take place until current restrictions are lifted on June 7.
“Unfortunately, there are no friendlies allowed until June 7 at the earliest. That is the government guidelines and the FAI guidelines.
“All friendlies after that point must be notified to the league and there must be an official referee for insurance purposes.”
Listen back to the audio on Scoreline extra below :
