Clare out in the cold

GAA board officials in Clare have readily acknowledged that Cusack Park is in dire need of a multi-million euro facelift.
That case was strongly presented by the executive and their team of consultants during the aborted bid to offload Cusack Park in the centre of town, to developers, in favour of a Greenfield site in Doora on the Quin Road, a few years ago.
Since then, refurbishment work at the county grounds has been piecemeal, investment in the maintenance project progressing at a pace board finances permit.
During the past couple of years, the terrace stand has been re-roofed and the rusted perimeter fencing around the pitch replaced. To coin a political phrase, there’s a lot done but more to do.
Aside from the gates at domestic games, the board is limited as regards its revenue-generating intake. However, another source of revenue for the county board is a pay-out from Croke Park when selected as a venue for inter-county games. Unfortunately, such an opportunity doesn’t present itself on too frequent a basis.
With Galway playing Limerick in the All-Ireland U-21 semi-final next weekend, board officers would have been rubbing their hands in the expectation of a pay day in that Cusack Park seemed the obvious venue. After all, Ennis is very central to both competing teams and because of the improved road structure, the M-18 motorway; it is nothing more than a short spin for travelling supporters.
Unfortunately, though, logic and convenience for supporters from both counties went out the window when Croke Park decided to opt for Semple Stadium in Thurles, leaving Clare out in the cold.
What wheeling and dealing goes on behind closed doors rarely becomes public knowledge but one would have to question what clout Clare really has in the decision-making process when Cusack Park was overlooked.
Some thanks
Féile na nGael and Féile Peil 2011, held in Galway and Cork respectively, are now confined to the history books. Both events were extremely well organised and a credit to the organisational abilities of Féile executives of the host counties.
They were also memorable for the participating Clare clubs for different reasons, some bittersweet.
In Galway, Killanena won the Division 5 camogie title while Sixmilebridge were beaten finalists in Division 2. However, Clooney suffered the ignominy of being disqualified after their camogie team failed to participate in the parade, which is compulsory for all participating teams, irrespective of the weather.
Wolfe Tones were eliminated in the hurling after extra time in a play-off in their final group game, while also standard bearers in football, they were beaten in the Division 5 final by Kilkenny city side O’Loughlin Gaels, who also had the distinction of winning the Division 1 hurling final.
This year, Croke Park wheeled in a new sponsor in Bus Éireann and they were delighted to welcome them on board, having surprisingly lost long-running sponsors, Coca-Cola. But therein lies another story as regards who is to blame for that sponsorship severance.
This year, Féile na n-Gael celebrated its 40th anniversary and, not surprisingly, Coca-Cola, who had been loyal and generous sponsors from the start, were extremely annoyed and disappointed at the manner in which they were treated in relation to the apparent unilateral termination of their sponsorship.
What was also bewildering was the fact that there wasn’t a word of appreciation or mention of Coca-Cola’s sponsorship – the first national sponsorship entered into by the GAA in 1971 and the longest-running sponsorship in Europe – in public.  It was a pioneering venture entered into with great sensitivity and respect for the ethos of the association. Surely this unique venture deserved some recognition and acknowledgement by the GAA hierarchy.
The manner and method of the severance of the sponsorship should be made public particularly, as it’s understood, Coca-Cola wanted to remain involved. The grassroots membership deserves an explanation as to how and why it happened.

Changing the format
Despite the fact there were many calls over the past year for a change in the format of the National Hurling League, we were told it wasn’t going to happen in the immediate future and that the format that has operated in the past two years would be retained.
Despite all the denials, proposals for a restructuring of the league have now been circulated and central council will vote this Saturday.
Given the many calls that were made for a change in the format, it’s very likely there will be a new system in place for 2012. Three choices have been presented and these include the current system, which, if we are to believe what we have heard for the past year, will receive little support.
Current Limerick manager Donal O’Grady and the now former Clare boss Ger O’Loughlin have repeatedly called for a change, pointing out that for counties like Limerick and Clare to challenge for honours, they need to be playing in the higher divisions.
The option most likely to be supported will see the competition divided into four groups of six teams. Clare and Limerick will find themselves in Division 1B along with Wexford, Offaly, Laois and Antrim. Each team will play the other, with the top two qualifying to play teams three and four in Division 1A in two quarter-finals. The winners of these two games will then play teams one and two from Division 1A in the semi-finals. In the quarter-final games the teams coming out of Division 1B will enjoy home advantage.
Only the team that finishes top in Division 1B will be promoted to 1A and will replace the team finishing at the bottom of 1A, who will drop down. Clubs in Clare seem to be in favour of this format.
While all the vibes coming from Limerick when the 2011 league was taking place was for change, indications now are that they may vote for retaining the system that has operated in recent years. Having won Division 2 this year, that system has placed them in Division 1 if the existing format is retained.
The newer option would see Limerick in Division 1B and this is where manager Donal O’Grady suggested they should be when he spoke with media representatives at the end of the campaign back in April.
It will be interesting to see how they will vote on Saturday.