Are they Shannon Gaels or Killimer players?

Killimer GAA Club will compete in adult competition for the first time in five years in 2012. The West Clare club has entered a team for junior competition and will be in the Junior B Championship as well as in league action.
At the end of the 2007 season, Killimer withdrew from adult competition because of a lack of numbers. Following a series of discussions involving County Board and Croke Park, agreement was reached which allowed Killimer players to transfer to neighbouring Shannon Gaels with whom they have been playing since.
Brian Cunningham, Francis Cleary and Sean Reynolds from Killimer played senior championship with Shannon Gaels in 2011.
Cleary’s father Tom won senior championships with the Gaels in 1970 and 1971 while 19-year-old Reynolds never played adult football for Killimer.
While the return of Killimer at adult level has received a broad welcome in GAA circles in the county, it has raised questions as to where Brian Cunningham, Francis Cleary, Sean Reynolds and a few others who have been part of the Gaels senior panel will play their football in 2012.
There is a view within Killimer that they must return to the parish. It could be argued that it was a condition of the agreement entered into at the start of 2008 when Killimer ceased to compete at adult level.
The arrangement that allowed the Killimer players line-out for the Gaels was initially for two years and this was extended for a further two at the start of 2010.
Another view is that the players were, with the blessing of all sections of the GAA, granted transfers to Shannon Gaels and there were no conditions attached.
According to Killimer chairman John Madigan, “the original agreement was only to tie us over and the transfers were conditional on that. The general view is that they could automatically come back. We didn’t have the numbers at the time but things have improved and we are getting around 20 at training.”
“Assistance is something that is being considered. With the leagues due to start shortly, it will have to be cleared up soon. Discussions are taking place,” the Killimer chairman said.
He added that while the club didn’t have an adult team in recent years they remained active at committee level.
“Indeed the club might be the envy of a lot of senior clubs with regard to our executive and the development that has taken place.
“We have two pitches and an all weather pitch which was developed two years ago and which is regularly used by the county development squads. While we weren’t able to field adult teams in recent years, the dream always remained to have our own club.”
According to club secretary Eve Brennan, “there is great interest locally and great excitement about this development.”
She stressed that “there is a great relationship between Killimer and Shannon Gaels and we are still working together at underage level. We would love to have an arrangement whereby our players could assist a neighbouring senior club and also represent their own club but I don’t know if that will happen.
According to Eamonn Keane, chairman of Shannon Gaels, “Croke Park has been written to by the County board and we are awaiting a response. With the leagues due to start shortly, we expect a ruling in the next few weeks.
Clare GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald confirmed that “Killimer have expressed a wish to compete at adult level and we have correspondance on this. I have written to Croke Park on the issue”.
Clare GAA’s master fixtures plan was adopted recently and, according to this, the first rounds of the county football leagues are set for Monday, March 19. A ruling with regard to the eligibility of the players in question is expected before then.