The May meeting of Clare County Board took place on Tuesday night at the West County Hotel in Ennis when controversy raged over a number of issues. Sports Editor Seamus Hayes was there for The Clare Champion

 

THE GAA’s director general Padraic Duffy is to be asked to get the Central Council to give a ruling on the eligibility of players from Killimer, who have been playing with Shannon Gaels during the past four years, while Killimer did not have an adult team. Killimer have re-entered competition at adult level this season.
Kenneth Collins from Killimer proposed at this week’s county board meeting that a “third party be appointed to review the current situation. Both clubs are in agreement with this and are anxious to have the situation resolved. We don’t want any players to be in a legality quagmire.”
Shannon Gaels chairman Eamonn Keane told the meeting, “We support this and we are actively trying to resolve the situation”.
“It’s an intricate case. I took it on my own bat to look for direction. I think there is some ambiguity there. This is not a simple case and it is far more complex and controversial now. I have more correspondence, which I don’t want to read out tonight,” according to county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald.

Crowley returns?
AN application from Brendan Crowley to transfer from Kilrush back to Killimer was before this week’s board meeting.
Putting the request to the meeting, secretary Pat Fitzgerald said that, with the unanimous consent of the meeting, it could be dealt with.
Kilrush delegate Colm Browne told the meeting he was only made aware of this request before the meeting. The Killimer delegates pointed out they had spoken with the Kilrush chairman, who didn’t have an issue with this.

Tournaments
BODYKE GAA were given permission to host the second annual Ned Doyle Tournament on Saturday, July 21.
The meeting gave permission to St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield to play Carrigaline from Cork in the Ger Hoey Memorial Tournament on July 1, while Lissycasey GAA were granted permission to host the second annual Brian Casey Memorial Seven-a-side Tournament on Saturday. Feakle were given permission to run a tournament for the Fr Kevin Hogan Cup.

U-21 football
THIRTEEN teams have signalled their intention to compete for the U-21A football championship title this year and this could increase to 14 as the North Clare amalgamation of Michael Cusack’s, Kilfenora and Liscannor have yet to confirm if they will be participating.
Michael Cusack’s delegate Dominick Conroy asked if the Clon Lirr team had entered, to be told by county secretary Pat Fitzgeald that “there is no such club”.
Teams confirmed to take part for the A title are Kilmurry-Ibrickane, Kilrush, Clondegad, Éire Óg, Cratloe, Ennistymon, Lissycasey, St Joseph’s (Doora-Barefield), Wolfe Tones, Miltown, St Breckan’s, Corofin and a new amalgamation of Shannon Gaels/Killimer and Kilmihil.
Competing for the B title will be Clarecastle, Cooraclare, Kilmihil, Kildysart-Coolmeen, Doonbeg and St Senan’s while the following have indicated they will compete for the C title, Kildysart, Coolmeen, O’Curry’s-Naomh Eoin, Meelick, Killimer, Banner and Michael Cusack’s.

Junior management back
THE Clare junior football management headed by Colm Collins is back in place, this week’s board meeting was told.
Last week, Cratloe official Collins resigned citing a lack of interest by players and clubs in the competition. However, a big improvement in the numbers at training on Monday led to his decision to return.
“Fifty players were contacted initially and the response was poor,” said board chairman Michael O’Neill.
Clondegad delegate Seamus O’Reilly challenged this saying he found it hard to believe that 50 were contacted. “I checked this out with our club and only one player was contacted. We had no training session under the same management last year,” he said.
Clarecastle’s Bernard Hanrahan praised the manager for his efforts, noting “three Clarecastle players were contacted”.
Miltown’s Noel Walsh told the meeting, “this is a great opportunity for players. They are one match away from a Munster final and I can’t see why some of the senior panel can’t be involved. They can only play 20.”
Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan questioned why the manager had cited O’Gorman Cup fixtures as a reason for players and clubs not supporting this competition and he expressed disappointment at this.
“It is an issue,” said board chairman Michael O’Neill, adding, “there is an O’Gorman Cup fixture scheduled for the night before this team plays their Munster semi-final. Can this not be played later?”
The meeting ratified “the re-appointment of Colm Collins as manager with Peter O’Connell and Michael Considine as selectors and Michael McDonagh as liaison officer”.

Earley can assist Cratloe
TUBBER’S Conor Earley can assist Cratloe footballers this season, it was confirmed at the meeting.
A resident in Sixmilebridge parish for a number of years, Earley’s request to join Cratloe as an isolated player was deferred at an earlier meeting. A county bylaw ratified at convention last year states that players applying to assist another club as an isolated player must join a neighbouring club.
Earley plays his hurling with his native Tubber whose players assist Michael Cusack’s in football. However, Earley pointed out that he resides in Sixmilebridge and the nearest football team is in Cratloe. The newly elected committee chaired by Ger Hickey to look into such applications, recommended that the request be granted for this year.
Permission has also been given to two players to play hurling with Ballyea. Sean McNamara, Ballyea delegate, pointed out that both have been with the Ballyea club and one of them has an older brother already playing with Ballyea.

49 days since last meeting
AT the start of the meeting, Miltown delegate Noel Walsh questioned why the meeting was not being held on the second Tuesday of the month.
“Is there some reason why it’s nearly seven weeks since the last meeting? They are normally on the second Tuesday of the month and clubs arrange their meetings to suit. That has been the case for many years and you could set your clock by the meetings.”
“There are various reasons for the change. There are a lot of other meetings at this time, plus championship launches. There are only seven days in the week,” said chairman O’Neill.
“I just can’t understand this. Previous secretaries had the same problems but the meetings were held on the specified date,” replied Walsh.
This drew a response from secretary Pat Fitzgerald, who said, “I had nothing to do with it”.

Minute’s silence
BEFORE the business of the monthly meeting got underway, delegates observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the memory of the Flan Cunningham, a long-time gate collector and steward; Alphie Crowe, brother of the board’s assistant secretary Des; Finola Loftus, wife of former Clare player Vincent; Paddy Daly, father of Feakle delegate Michael and Joe Hennessy, Kilkee, a former official with Kilkee and the Clare football board.

 

 

Intermediate management ratified…eventually

THE appointment of the U-21 joint managers, Donal Moloney (Scariff) and Gerry O’Connor (Éire Óg) to take charge of the Clare intermediate hurlers was ratified at this week’s meeting of the county board but only after much controversy.
The matter came up for discussion during a discussion on the minutes of the previous meeting, when Kilmaley’s Niall Romer asked why a letter from his club, proposing him for the position of intermediate Clare manager, had not been read at the previous meeting.
“We weren’t sure if the intermediate competition would be going ahead this year. It was April 13 before Central Council decided to continue the competition,” chairman Michael O’Neill told the Kilmaley delegate.
“Up to then, the players were working with the senior and U-21 panels with a view to forming a development squad. The management of the U-21 team continued to look after this squad. Twenty players from last year’s All-Ireland winning team are no longer available. The outgoing manager had decided that he wasn’t continuing,” continued O’Neill.
He then read a letter from last year’s manager, Kevin Kennedy outlining his involvement with the intermediate team over a number of years and naming the various selectors who had served with him. In the letter, Kennedy suggested, “This team should be used as a development squad and the U-21 management should have an imput”. After paying tribute “to all the players that have been involved”, Kennedy said, “Clare hurling has turned the corner and the future is bright”.
Romer said, “I spoke to you after the All-Ireland and said I was interested and you said you would get back to me. I was asked by Kilmaley to take on the senior position but I said I couldn’t give a commitment as I was waiting to hear from this.”
O’Neill replied, “At no stage did I mislead you. I told you we were awaiting a decision as to whether or not the competition would be going ahead. When that decision was made we sat down with the U-21 management and discussed the position as we felt that was the way to go. A lot of delegates had asked if we would look at this as a development squad.”
Romer continued, “Did I not deserve to be consulted? You had a meeting with the senior and U-21 managements in February. You should have said to my face that I was not wanted. You met with last year’s management last Sunday and I got no phonecall about that meeting.”
O’Callaghan’s Mills delegate Noel O’Driscoll said, “The dogs in the street knew that Niall Romer was keen on this job. He has a great hurling pedigree. He captained Clare to win an All-Ireland. I refereed many matches that he played. He was hard and fair and scrupulously clean. I think he deserves a run at it. He has coached and managed Kilmaley for a number of years. Mike Mac and Tony Considine, who worked with Ger Loughnane, got a run at it when he finished. I served with all Clare teams over the years and one is enough at any time. I am surprised with Donal Moloney. You will have some mature players in that panel also. He [Romer] is being shabbily treated.”
Miltown’s Noel Walsh supported O’Driscoll saying, “It’s unique that a man who was a selector could not be considered to be nearly automatically appointed. It’s well over two months ago since the decision on the competition was made. The fixture has been in the Munster Council diary. I don’t know much about Niall Romer but he should be accommodated.”
Clarecastle delegate Bernard Hanrahan asked, “Who selected the U-21 management?” to which O’Neill replied, “We did”.
Hanrahan asked, “Who gave ye authority? Niall Romer has a genuine case.”
O’Neill said, “Nobody doubts his credentials”. Walsh said, “I propose an amendment that he be included”.
O’Driscoll asked, “Do you not think he deserves to be included?” He went on to tell the chairman, “When your club was at an all-time low, I met with you in the Auburn Lodge. I agreed to help out and I stuck with them.”
Doonbeg delegate Michael Neenan told the meeting he “never saw a man to come in and offer himself for a position. There are very few chomping at the bit to get involved.”
O’Driscoll said, “I propose Niall Romer to manage the Clare intermediate team. Are the delegates meaningless here? I don’t want to take anybody’s character.”
O’Neill replied, “I won’t be taking that proposal and Niall knows exactly what I am talking about”.
As the arguments raged on, Clarecastle’s Bernard Hanrahan suggested an adjournment to allow both sides meet privately and discuss the issue.
On their return to the meeting room approximately 15 minutes later, Romer acknowledged all who supported him. “In the interests of Clare hurling I am withdrawing from this. There was an incident last year. I was there but had nothing to do with it. All I wanted was to be treated fairly. I wish the lads the best of luck,” he concluded.
The Kilmaley man then seconded a proposal from Mike Clancy (Newmarket) that Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor be appointed as joint managers of the Clare intermediate team.