Kilkenny minor championship begins tonight, one team unsure if they’ll be allowed to play

The Kilkenny minor championship begins on Monday night. One team are still in limbo.

With both clubs struggling for numbers at the start of the year, Slieverue and the Blacks and Whites were granted permission by the Kilkenny county board to form an amalgamation. This came with the stipulation however, that the team would be allowed to play in the League and not in the championship. The affected clubs maintain that this restriction 'goes against the ethos of the GAA and that championship competition should be available to them, as is being afforded to other amalgamations within the county.' Indeed, the Slieverue and Blacks and Whites amalgamation side played against a Galmoy/Windgap combined team recently in a challenge game and while their opponents (an amalgamation side for ten years) are allowed to play in the championship, it appears the newly formed side will be prohibited from playing. Members of the clubs have contacted representatives of the Kilkenny county board and the Leinster board but claim they are yet to receive a satisfactory explanation as to why they're being omitted. The club issued a statement here. SportsJOE contacted the Kilkenny county board but are yet to receive a response.