This article is from page 68 of the 2011-12-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 68 JPG
ANY proposal to reduce the number of senior teams in the county as part of a radical overhaul of club structures in the county that’s being considered by a new county board committee would be a retrograde step.
That was the warning sounded out by former Clare County Board vicechairman, Michael Lee, with the Tubber delegate railing against any move to cull senior teams that might be put before clubs at a Special Convention that’s been earmarked for January 15 next.
“I hear a lot of talk of reducing the number of teams,” Lee told the annual Convention, “but over the past five years we have seen four new teams win the senior championship. That has to be good. For the next two or three years we will see two more clubs win the senior championship.
“There is no fear that the traditional clubs will come back and win senior championships again. They just have to raise their games and I don’t think that reducing the number of clubs at this particular time is the appropriate way forward,” added Lee.
“That will be raised at the special convention in relation the finding of the committee that has been established to look into fixtures,” said county board chairman, Michael O’Neill. “I don’t think we should pre-empt the findings of that committee.
“Pat (Fitzgerald’s) report is very honest in relation to the situation that we find ourselves in at the moment. I don’t wish to comment on it any further than that,” the chairman added.
“I notice the spin that is being put on things,” retorted Lee. “There is no spin,” said O’Neill. “I’m putting no spin on it. I put it quite clearly to the November meeting that I put a committee in place at the request and after motion from Michael Curtin from O’Curry’s.
“It’s not coming from Michael O’Neill or any other individual. It’s the entire body of Clare GAA who are looking into structures and competitions in Clare. Let nobody else put a different slant or opinion on it. Certainly not,” said O’Neill in hitting back.
“I’m not saying that,” said Lee.
“It sounded like that,” answered O’Neill. “I have said that hard deci- sions will have to be made in the new year. I don’t to pre-empt anything. That committee has an autonomy and it will come back with its findings and its report,” he added.
All motions on games and structures for championships, which number 19 in all weren’t discussed at Thursday’s Convention, with motions 13 to 31 held over to the Special Convention when the findings of the county board chaired by Padraic Boland from Broadford will present their findings.
However, a debate on structures was sparked by Tulla delegate, Michael O’Halloran, who made a radical proposal for a four and a half month closed season for club affairs.
“The subject of club fixtures has to be broadened out and cannot be re- solved without the involvement and understanding and co-operation of both the provincial council and Central Council,” O’Halloran said.
“This is a three dimensional problem that needs input from the board, the Munster Council and Central Council.
“We want to play the club championship in the summer season, we want to maintain the integrity of the provincial championships, we want the All-Ireland series.
“I propose we run the club championship between the 1st of April and the 15th of August and that there would be a closed season for club competition and that the inter-county competition would take place subsequent to the 15th of August,” he added.