Cusack Park for football final

The 2012 county senior football final will be played in Cusack Park, Clare GAA chairman Michael O’Neill emphatically told this week’s April meeting of the county board.
He made the statement in response to a proposal from Miltown delegate Noel Walsh asking for the final to be played at Hennessy Park in Miltown. During his response, O’Neill informed the delegates that since the March meeting of the board, members of the executive had met with representatives of the Miltown club with regard to this issue.
“We outlined all the options to your club. Finance was never more badly needed and the finance committee has the final say on all matters involving finance,” the chairman told this week’s meeting.
Responding, Miltown delegate Walsh stated that “only this committee, the county committee, can make that decision”.
“The decision is made,” responded O’Neill “and if you want to challenge this somewhere else, then do so”.
“All we are asking is to be allowed to put our request here,” replied Walsh.
“The decision is made. It’s the same as three years ago when Michael Cusack’s wanted to host the final,” said O’Neill.
Naomh Eoin delegate Gabriel Keating suggested that the finances will improve because Clare are in the league semi-final. “In ’99 Miltown did the board a favour when we didn’t have a grounds,” he said.
“We have looked at it from every angle. We have to get every penny we can and that’s the bottom line,” chairman O’Neill replied.
“You can’t guarantee you will make more money by having the game in the park. We will have to take this further,” said Walsh.
Seconding the proposal to have the game in Miltown, Michael Neenan from Doonbeg asked if there will ever be a county final in West Clare again saying, “We might look for it next year”.
Stressing that “it’s not a personal thing”, chairman O’Neill repeated that “it’s a decision of the finance committee and the board executive”.

That forum report… again
Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan again raised questions about the Bord na nÓg Forum report at this week’s board meeting.
Having asked if there was “any further information”, chairman Michael O’Neill replied “Eamonn Keane (forum chairman) is not available to attend tonight but he will be here the next night to present an update”.
“Oh God Almighty,” replied Neenan.
“All items are being dealt with as we speak,” said O’Neill.
“Only time will tell,” replied Neenan. “We need to put proper structures in place. Look, we were beaten out the gate in Cork in the U-21 last week. We have to do something different.”
“How many players had we on that team from west of Lissycasey?” the chairman asked.
“That’s the problem. We are not improving and our underage is not improving. You have six months to go. Do something and leave your mark on it,” Neenan said.

Croke Park to rule on Killimer application
At the March meeting of Clare GAA, Killimer were given time to submit a list of players’ names to be ‘regularised’ for the 2012 season.
After a four-year absence, Killimer affiliated an adult team this season. For the past four years adult players from their parish played their football with Shannon Gaels.
Before reading the list to this week’s meeting of the board, county secretary Pat Fitzgerald explained “there are two names on this list that I will not be reading out at this stage as they have written to Croke Park for clarification as regards their position”.
Killimer delegate Kenneth Collins asked why this was the case. “One is only 17 and should not have played any senior football with any team up to this year as, up to this, he was a juvenile player with Killimer, the club he started playing with.
“The other player, who is my neighbour, is in college in Wexford. I can’t see any reason why they can’t play for this club. If they have a problem they can then apply to transfer our of the club.”
“They have the right to apply to Croke Park. I checked with Croke Park this evening and their request is being put before the management committee,” explained Fitzgerald.
“They are training with Shannon Gaels at the moment. Are they covered by insurance if they break a leg?” asked Collins.
“We did everything right. Four years ago, we got all the players to go to one club,” explained Killimer’s Alan Culligan.
“Let the system decidek,” said Fitzgerald before putting the following names to the meeting to be ‘regularised’, Jack and Paul Browne, Brian and Eoin Grogan, Chris and Padraig Keniry, Sean McMahon, Mark Moloney, Ruairi Norrby, Fergal Ryan, Sean Reynolds and Keith Slattery.
Shannon Gaels weren’t represented at this week’s meeting.
New committee
appointed
As indicated at the March board meeting, county board chairman Michael O’Neill has set up a new committee, which will examine transfer and isolated player requests.
The committee will be chaired by Feakle’s Ger Hickey, who is Clare’s Central Council delegate and the committee will include Sandra Reynolds (Bord na nÓg hurling secretary); Niamh Madigan (Bord na nÓg football secretary); Mike Clancy (Newmarket); Nuala Shanahan (Doonbeg); John Reidy (Miltown); Dan O’Connor (St Joseph’s) and county secretary, Pat Fitzgerald.

Club Clare walk raised €9,000
To date, the inaugural Club Clare walk, which took place on Bank Holiday Monday, March 19, has raised €9,000 and there are still cards to be returned, treasurer Bernard Keane told this week’s county board meeting.
Presenting his financial report, Keane confirmed that, up to the end of March, team expenses, which include development squads, had cost €208,460.61; upkeep and maintenance of grounds cost €545,743.46; administration expenses cost €78,064.39 and coaching and games cost €69,339.38, which was mainly on wages.
Replying to Whitegate’s Denis Tuohy, the treasurer said it is difficult to compare these figures to last year but his view is that they were “up slightly”.
“There will be a six month review at the end of April and there will be a clearer picture then,” he said.
Chairman Michael O’Neill said it “puzzles me as to why there is such a massive focus on what is spent on county teams. We are trying to keep expenses down across the board.”
The board’s audit committee chairman Michael Curtin told the meeting that great credit is due to the different team managements for their efforts.
“Every player is well looked after and the various managements have been excellent,” he said, before telling the delegates that “we must push on and get income in. If we can’t get it in, then we are in serious trouble.”

Re-appointed
James Nash (Scariff), Simon Moroney (Éire Óg), John Reidy (Miltown) Gerry O’Malley (Kilmaley) and Dan O’Connor (St Joseph’s) have been re-appointed to the County Hearings Committee (CHC) for 2012.

Transfer granted
Damian Noonan’s transfer from O’Callaghan’s Mills to Tulla, deferred from the March board meeting, was granted as this week’s meeting.

League changes
Sixmilebridge will compete in the Junior A Hurling League this season, it was confirmed at this week’s meeting of Clare GAA.
“They were included in the Junior B League but should be in the A competition where they have now been placed ahead of the start of the competition this weekend.
“Corofin had been included in the A competition but were relegated last year and have now been moved down to the B competition,” explained board secretary Fitzgerald before announcing the league fixtures for both teams.

Credit to hurlers
Miltown’s Noel Walsh told the meeting, “There is great credit due to the hurlers on their win last week and they are now through to play Kilkenny. There is a similarity with the footballers who are going to Aughrim on Sunday where it is very important we get a victory as promotion is essential. They have a good record of consistency,” he said.
Congratulating the hurlers on their Division 1B win, chairman Michael O’Neill wished the footballers well this week.
Coaching officer Eamonn Fennessy who is also the county minor hurling manager, wished the minor footballers well in their Munster Championship first-round game this Saturday.

Tributes to Mary
Miltown’s Noel Walsh and board chairman Michael O’Neill led the tributes to Mary Coyle, clerical officer with Clare GAA for the past 20 years, who has retired recently.
“On behalf of the board I want to thank her for her years of service to this board. She is a great GAA person and, thankfully, she is going to continue to assist at county board meetings,” he said.