Clare GAA Expecting To Announce Deficit In 2020 Accounts

Derrick Lynch

Chairman of Clare GAA Joe Cooney has confirmed that the 2020 Annual Convention will be held online on December 15 in order to comply with Covid-19 guidelines.

The O’Callaghan’s Mills clubman is one of the officers who will not be seeking reelection to his position, having completed five years in the role.

He outlined to the virtual November meeting of delegates that nominations for positions would be submitted prior to Convention, with a postal or delivery vote taking place once candidates have been finalised. The results of those votes will be announced on the evening of December 15.

It is unlikely that a large volume of motions from clubs will be submitted, with a circular from Croke Park to each county stating that “it is advised that any matters that can wait to make them wait and remain conservative – 2020 is not the year to consider contentious motions”.

Treasurer Michael Gallagher also outlined to the meeting that he expects a deficit to be announced when the finances for a “difficult year” are tallied in the coming weeks, but was unsure as to how far in the red the board will be. He revealed that the streaming initiative this year has realised a “modest surplus” with the cost of purchasing the board’s own equipment being covered by the money brought in. No exact figures were revealed with that likely to be detailed in the report to Convention. Gallagher also informed delegates that Croke Park had committed to covering the cost of the expenses accrued by intercounty teams since the return to training in mid-September, while further monies from the GAA were also going towards covering bills for the board.

The chairman confirmed that the 2020 U-21 hurling and football championships would not be completed this year and felt any attempts to complete those competitions prior to the 2021 championships would have to be considered at the structures at the start of next year.

A vote of sympathy was also proposed for the late Michael Griffin who served as a board officer along with serving as chairman of both Crusheen and Kilmihil GAA clubs.