Category: Sport

OUTGOING Chairman Johnny Hayes reflected on his four years at the helm of Clare Ladies Football by proudly reviewing the accomplishments that the county achieved during his tenure.

“The future looks very bright for our teams. When I Look back over my four years, I enjoyed it very much. I saw Clare win two National League titles, Division 2 and 3, also reached two All-Ireland Intermediate finals losing one and winning one and we won two Munster Intermediate titles. We also won two All-Ireland Under 14 blitzes, Munster and an All-Ireland Under 14 championship, an Under 16B All-Ireland championship and a Munster Minor Championship for the first time in 20 years and went on to reach the All-Ireland.

“In 2008, the first Munster Junior title came to Clare courtesy of West Clare Gaels who went on to contest the national final. In 2009, it was Kilmihil’s turn to bring the Munster and All-Ireland Junior titles back to Clare and create history. In 2010, it was West Clare Gaels again, this time winning the Munster and AllIreland Intermediate titles after their first county senior title. We also had post primary success with Scoil Mhuire from Ennistymon winning the Munster Colleges title.

“When I look back on those achievements, they bring back great memories for me and it was great to be in the Chair when all those titles came back to Clare.

“Finally I want to thank the camogie board for their cooperation, all our sponsors, my fellow club and county officers, the local media and to all the clubs for the cooperation and courtesy extended to me throughout the year. With a good understanding and working relationship, my job was made much easier.”

Johnny Hayes was subsequently elected as Vice-Chairman for 2012.

IN ACCORDANCE of the views of the delegates on the night, Secretary Michael Fitzpatrick, in his annual report, also expressed the need to alter the structure of the adult championships.

As part of his review of the year, Fitzpatrick looked into various aspects of the adult competitions.

“I feel we will have to look at our senior championship again as Coolmeen ran into problems with fulfilling their matches. Also I think the league should be over before starting the championship.

“We need to look at our structures in 2012 and another aspect is the inclusion of second teams from clubs in the adult lower grades as it happened again this year that clubs pulled their second team out, prior or during the competition, also not willing to name their first 15 players.”

In a comprehensive report, Fitzpatrick thanked all clubs and county teams for their efforts in 2011, particularly the senior side who captured the National League Division 3 title, and wished them the best for 2012.

“We may not have won many laurels in 2011 but congratulations to David O’Brien and his team on winning the Division 3 League and also to the five players who were picked on the Division 3 Team of the League (Lorraine Kelly, Louise Henchy, Niamh Keane, Niamh O’Dea and Eimear Considine). Also to David O’Brien on being Manager of the Month for May.”

“To the 22 clubs, I wish you all the best for 2012 and to the incoming board, the best of luck for the new season.”

OUTGOING Treasurer Christy O’Connor received the biggest applause of the night for his long service to Clare Ladies Football. Associated with the board since 1988, the Coolmeen clubman served under five different chairpersons during his various terms and on this his sixth successive report as Treasurer, he also reported an annual profit of € 10,844.22 and an overall balance of € 27,890.96.

However, that healthy position came with a caveat to the incoming treasurer as expected transport costs of approximately € 8-9,000 are imminent in the New Year.

O’Connor also told the delegates that gate receipts ‘held their own’ in 2011 (14,107) with only a slight decrease from the previous year, with income totaling € 107,712.37 while expenditure amounted to € 96,908.15.

A large bulk of both totals centred around Club Registration and the distribution of same to various central boards and the injury scheme. Church Gate Collections also made up € 8,300.77 of the income total while senior team expenses were € 11,742.90.

Avenue United 0 – Connolly Celtic 1 at Lisdoonvarna

AN EARLY Christmas treat for Connolly Celtic who turned their cup agony into cup ecstacy on Sunday when taking the notable scalp of Avenue Utd. Almost two months ago, the First Division side were heartbreakingly edged out by Bridge Celtic in the Division 1 League Cup Final after a two hour endurance battle that went all the way to sudden death penalties.

This game could have easily strayed into an extra period as well but for a dogged Connolly performance that saw them simply refuse to yield despite the expected Avenue backlach. Indeed, the victory was made all the more admirable when you consider that Connolly lost regular goalkeeper Niall Quinn in the warm-up and had to use outfield player Brendan Field as the stand-in goalkeeper from the outset.

Economy was the key to their first half advantage after taking the lead as early as the ninth minute with what was their only real meaningful shot on target in the half. It stemmed from a pinpoint Mickey Byrnes cross from the left that was met by the onrushing Kieran Dillon to nestle his header into the top left corner of the net.

It arguably came against the run of play as it was the Ennis side who had done all the early running and were enjoying particular success down the left wing where young duo Dylan Casey and David Smyth proved difficult to police. However, a serious ankle injury to Casey midway through the half disrupted their flow and while his replacement David McCarthy had several attempts at goal, including a rasping effort that was excellently parried by Field, the back-to-back Clare Cup champions remained frustrated.

There were also penalty claims at both ends before the break but both were deemed too theatrical while Barry Nugent had a late first half effort tipped away as Connolly held out to the interval.

The second half was much more open and conducive to counter-attacking football as Avenue altered their formation to three at the back in the hope of unlocking the Connolly defence while the leaders also switched right-back Alan Markham to the wing to menacing effect.

Indeed, Markham was influential at both sides of the field on the restart, first when getting back to deny McCarthy what should have been the equaliser and then later on when repeatedly breaking down the right, only for the final ball on each occasion to let him down.

As the half progressed, Avenue became more and more desperate which resulted in some ambitious long range shooting from Mikey Mahoney and Barry Nugent in particular that never troubled goalkeeper Field.

Avenue had better luck with David Smyth’s 73rd minute free that seemed destined for the corner of the net, only for Field to match it with a great diving save. Down the other end, Avenue goalkeeper John Healy also had to be alert to keep out a Kenneth Kennedy volley in the 86th minute, a goal which would have surely sealed the win.

In the end however, that second goal wasn’t necessary as despite several goalmouth scrambles that could have easily nestled in the Connolly net, Avenue were simply unable to break down a stubborn rearguard, marshalled supremely by Kieran Dillon.

Christmas came early for Connolly with their present, a fourth round home tie against Limerick superpowers Pike Rovers in the New Year.

A MOVE by county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald to reduce the number of county board meetings to six each year has been deferred for consideration at a Special Convention on January 15 next.

This decision was taken by delegates to Thursday’s Convention, amid claims from county board chairman Michael O’Neill that some county board around the country have as little as two county board meetings during the year.

The motion, tabled by the Sixmilebridge club on behalf of Mr Fitzgerald, was one of two on the Convention Clár that dealt specifically with county board meetings – the other from the St Joseph’s Miltown, which called for 11 county board gatherings during the year was also deferred.

“For many years we’ve had similar structures,” said Fitzgerald in outlining his argument for change. “In many businesses, if they didn’t change for a number of years, then we know what would happen.

“It would afford the opportunity to have debate. The text of the motion is incidental. I am just putting forward my reasons.

“I believe there are many issues of concern in Clare GAA. You may say why didn’t I write about them, but I feel it may not have been in the best interests to address them in that fashion.

“I do feel that there is a need for change, but most of all, we would all agree that in recent years, particularly in the past couple of years, with emigration and migration.

“We did a survey last year (on player emigration) and we tried to do it again this year. It is absolutely frightening.

“The place address these critical issues which are going to confront our association in the near future is with the key people in the association. The key people as far as I am concerned are the leaders of the clubs. The elected people in the clubs,” he added.

The secretary’s motion argued that six county board meetings would involve the chairman or secretary of each club, the board delegate and senior team manager being present.

A number of delegates to Convention backed the motion.

“The workings of board meetings needs to be review and restructured and this motion will help to achieve that,” said Kilrush Shamrocks delegate, Colm Browne. “It might be a step forward for tonight, but it is timely.

“There is a disconnect at times be- tween what happens at board meetings and what’s reflected on the ground in clubs and the message that’s relayed at board meetings is not the message that’s agreed at club meetings – the opinion of the club doesn’t come through.

“Getting the key people in clubs into meetings is critical because the issues that the GAA is facing in terms of migration and numbers and finance, there needs to be a reconnection between the clubs and the executive. The only way you can do that is by having meaningful meetings,” he added.

“This is an effort to have quality before quantity,” said Cratloe delegate, Flan O’Reilly. “We are beginning to realise that the GAA is more than the officers. There needs to be more of a calculated input from the clubs and this is an attempt to do this.

“I would like to support the motion,” said Cooraclare delegate, PJ McGuane, “particularly because with it we’re going to get the motion a month in advance. There is a disconnect”.

“If we pass this, it’s going to anchor us down,” said Tulla delegate Michael O’Halloran. “It’s going to anchor us down to a situation where we discuss football matters for one hour and hurling matters for one hour and then we have general discussion.

“When I was young we had a holy hour. If you weren’t spiritually in- clined it was an endurance. If some of us had to sit through codes we’re not particularly interested in, we have great difficulty with this.

And, Allowing secretaries of subcommittees call meetings, I think it is a total and absolute recipe for disaster,” added O’Halloran.

“We are asking that there would be 11 meetings in the year,” said St Joseph’s Miltown delegate, Noel Walsh, in opposing the notion of only having six board meetings a year. “If we reduce our number of meetings to six – if it’s passed we would probably be the only county in the association who don’t hold a monthly meeting,” added Walsh.

“I can assure you that that isn’t true. There are counties who hold two and maybe four meetings a year,” countered board chairman, Michael O’Neill.

“I was astonished that after the June meeting of the county board, we didn’t come back until the middle of September for the next full county board meeting,” responded Walsh.

“This was despite the fact that the intervening months were a hive of activity at club level, county level and everything.

“It’s better to be talking at a county board meeting than to be talking in the pub, or talking out at the gate giving out. The place to be talking is at a monthly county board meeting or the Convention,” he added.

“Six meetings. There can be eight, nine, ten meetings. I don’t mind,” said Pat Fitzgerald. “The one thing I would say that the first meeting would be in February and then it would be up to the county committee to do two things – one, before the end of the meeting, they would set the agenda for the next meeting and would decide on when it would be held,” he added.

CLARE GAA have been called upon to make their new Michael Cusack Archive that’s now housed at its Áras Chiosóg headquarters in Clareabbey available to members of the public to view for research purposes.

In making the call, Br Sean McNamara, who donated the material to Clare GAA earlier in the year, said that granting public access to Michael Cusack papers he had collected over three decades was crucial to keeping the legacy of the GAA’s founding father to the fore.

“As you all know, nobody would be here tonight with Michael Cusack,” said Br McNamara. “During the past 30 years, I have been collecting materials dealing with the life and times of Michael Cusack.

“All the information I collected over the years – and being of an age that I may not be much longer on this planet – I have decided to make it available.

“Des Crowe suggested to me that the proper thing to do with it would be to give it to the county board. During the month of May, we spent many hours putting together the material.

“It consists of 14 folders of material – in other words there is in excess of 200 items. For those of you who may not know, all the material belonging to Michael Cusack is in the university of Galway.

“That is not much use to people, because it is almost impossible to get a look at it. I’m one of few to have seen the material, because last May I gave the university 12 items.

“By giving the material to the county board it means that people wanting to get information relating to Michael Cusack will be readily available. That’s readily available and I hope that this will happen,” added Br McNamara.

The Kilmurry McMahon man used the platform of Thursday’s Convention to launch a volley in the direction of Ennis Town Council, over what he called the local authority’s misrepresentation of Cusack’s proper place in GAA history.

“There are still people who think that the GAA was not the brainchild of Michael Cusack,” said Br McNamara rounding on detractors of the Carron man.

“It was Michael and Michael alone who thought up the founding of the Gaelic Athletic Association,” continued Br McNamara.

“There are a number of information boards in Ennis. It is located on Francis Street, close to where Clare FM was and it says ‘The GAA was the brainchild of PW Nally, 1857-91. He suggested his idea to his friend, Michael Cusack and active Fenian’.

“On both counts it’s wrong. It wasn’t PW Nally’s brainchild. It was Michael Cusack’s brainchild,” added Br McNamara.

THE development of state of the art training facilities at Caherlohan on the outskirts of Tulla comes before the upgrading of the county flagship facility of Cusack Park to the standards required by Croke Park authorities.

That’s the verdict of Clare County Board secretary Pat Fitzgerald this week, with the de facto chief executive of Gaelic Games in the county warning delegates that Caherlohan – which has already had € 3m pumped into its development over the past five years – will not be opened unless “substantial” further investment at the facility.

That investment, says Fitzgerald, should be prioritized ahead of an upgrade of Cusack Park, which the county board has been required to by GAA headquarters if the capacity of the premier ground in the county is to be restored to a level where it could host top-flight inter-county games.

Against a backdrop of what has been described as the “bleak financial position” of Clare County Board finances, Fitzgerald will tell delegates to this Thursday’s annual Convention in the Auburn Lodge Hotel that the “cash-strapped” board “will have to prioritise our expenditure during the coming year”.

In his annual report, Fitzgerald says that the Caherlohan v Cusack Park debate over where to invest funds will ultimately come down to the decision of county board delegates.

However, his report makes it clear that putting Caherlohan at the head of the queue is his recommendation, because of the benefits that will accrue to county teams, development squads and clubs going forward.

“Let me make it crystal clear, it will be decision time,” says Fitzgerald.

“Do we invest in continued improvement work at Cusack Park at the expense of our centre of training excellence at Caherlohan where we’ve already invested over € 3million?

“It is also important for clubs to be aware that if there isn’t continued substantial investment in Caherlohan then the facility, which is urgently required, will remain a work in progress and will remain closed.

“Against that background, clubs will have to decide where we invest our money – in Cusack Park where we won’t get high profile games or in Caherlohan which will be to the benefit of every single county team, development squads and even clubs.

“Personally speaking, I think we have to prioritise Caherlohan while at the same time not ignoring the situation in Cusack Park.

“That’s my opinion but ultimately it’s you the clubs of Clare who will be the final arbitrators,” adds Fitzgerald.

IN the same week that the county senior football team has been rated as the second worst team in Ireland, the Clare County Board has come out and defended its record of promoting the game in the county.

Clare’s deeply embarrassing rating was contained in a league table compiled by

CLARE County Board secretary Pat Fitzgerald will tell delegates to this Thursday’s annual Convention that “a more ruthless approach” will have to be taken with club fixtures and formats from 2012 onwards – a policy where “hard calls” such as the culling the number of senior clubs will be placed firmly on the agenda.

In his landmark 21

CUSACK PARK’S crowd capacity has not been reduced to maximum of 12,800 as was revealed by Clare County Board secretary Pat Fitzgerald and reported on by