Isolated players bylaw raises hackles

The adjourned convention of Clare GAA took place last Thursday at the West County Hotel, Ennis, with a debate on a proposed new draft bylaw dealing with isolated players. The convention was followed by a structures meeting, when a number of sub committees were ratified. Sports Editor Seamus Hayes reports

CLARE GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald “purposelessly drafted this new bylaw to intentionally or otherwise target clubs like Kilmaley” it was claimed at last week’s adjourned county GAA convention.

In the course of a detailed presentation opposing the proposal, Kilmaley delegate Conor Clancy made the claim.
Mr Fitzgerald said he was disappointed to have been singled out. “There is nothing about Kilmaley anywhere in the proposal. The chairman of the committee is Ger Hickey. Anything I have done is with integrity and honour. I have no problem if you want to put someone else in.”
Later Fitzgerald told the Kilmaley delegate, “Two members of your club called to me today asking me to explain this draft. I explained it to them and they had no problem understanding the proposal.”
Board chairman Michael McDonagh said, “There is no anti-Kilmaley here. I would not chair any committee that would target any club.”
Committee chairman Ger Hickey told the meeting, “We worked very hard on this. I would not be involved in any committee that would victimise any club. We tried to include everybody.
According to Clancy, “There is no personal attack here. I am putting the sentiments of our club. A fundamental change is being proposed to the bylaws and our club is included in one of the zones proposed.”
Opening the discussion, board chairman Michael McDonagh read the proposed draft to the meeting.

Change needed?
Speaking on behalf of Kilmaley, Conor Clancy questioned the need to change the current bylaw 7. “Ourselves and other clubs attended both county board subcommittee meetings held late in 2012 to discuss bylaw 7 and at no point did that committee infer there were major issues with it. In fact, we were under the impression that the opposite was the case. The clubs that attended wanted certain technicalities addressed such as the position of siblings and a parentage rule included. Also a clarification of the word ‘nearest’ in the bylaw text was sought. Our club responded in good faith with a reasonable proposition in an attempt to take any ambiguity away from the current definition that had been applied, generally successfully, by Bord na nÓg over recent years. So why change now despite a consensus that change was not necessary?” he asked.
Clancy noted “The proposed draft quite correctly aspires ‘to ensure that advantage is not gained by any unit’ of the association in the processing of players wishing to play the other code. With this in mind, I have to ask why do the county board see it fit to unilaterally group clubs into zones with fictitious and unclear borders and use this loose grouping to disadvantage one club over another. Surely this is inequitable and totally at variance with the much-vaunted democratic principles of the association and the aspiration of this bylaw. The club is the basic unit at the core of the association and it is indeed a sad day when any situation emerges, which treats one club differently to others. Moreover, the main aim should be to increase participation in our games, not limit it as will surely be the impact if the draft as currently structured were agreed.”
He asked, “Why doesn’t the board clearly identify what policies it wants to promote in relation to isolation of players? One thing that is for certain is that it is not clear from the proposed wording how this will impact in practical terms on isolated players in most clubs in North and West Clare and surely this is the complete opposite of what is required and clearly not in accordance with the aspiration contained in the draft.”
He further queried why is it proposed that all applicants must apply for permission each year to the CCC? “Why are we now trying to complicate things and put restrictions and roadblocks in the way of players from separately affiliated hurling and football clubs? The Kilmaley club have worked hard at underage level in recent years and the structures in place have resulted in success on the playing fields and indeed recognition by the board with the underage club of the year award in 2012. Isolated players in either code apply to play with another affiliated club because of love of the game, which is not available in their club. They select an adjacent club, which enables them to be conveniently dropped off for training and so on by parents. Isolated players will only play with clubs who are prepared to work with them and who look after them. It would seem we are being penalised both for our geographical location and for our hard work over a long number of years with both our own and isolated players.”
The Kilmaley delegate added, “I just hope that it is not because our club has managed to achieve some success in underage competitions in recent years that there are now proposals to fundamentally change the ground rules; it’s unjust and very similar to changing game rules, while the game is still in progress. I would like to say to you personally, Mr Secretary, that were it not for Kilmaley would Conor Cleary have developed into the best minor hurler in Munster in 2012. What club, Mr Secretary, does the next Conor Cleary and all of the other future Conor Cleary’s go to? Is that clear from this proposed bylaw? We as a club don’t think so.
“Our club’s primary objective is to continue to look after players from our parish just as we have done for generations. We have also opened our club up to isolated players and treat them as if they are our own and in return, they have developed their own game at club and sometimes county level.”
He claimed that in terms of isolated players, Kilmaley does not benefit to the extent that others have claimed.
The former Kilmaley club chairman added, “In our Féile na nGael Iomaint winning panel of 2012 we had three isolated players out of 35,  two of which were from Lissycasey where both clubs have a longstanding partnership with the blessing of the board.
“In our minor-winning panel, we had five players in a panel of 23, three of which were from Lissycasey. I would like to point out that this was the very same group of players who contested and lost the U-16B final two years previous and an U-14B final four years previously. I’ll repeat this was the same bunch of players who lost two B finals but through coaching and with huge character and work rate, turned the tables on the top hurling clubs in Clare
“In the 2009 minor A-winning panel, we again had three isolated players, all from Lissycasey.
“In 2004 minor A-winning panel, we had one isolated player from Kilmurry-Ibrickane who now captains that club and, unfortunately, no longer plays the game to which he is a great loss. In 2012, we have only eight U-6 hurlers and 14 U-8s. Where is this huge influx of isolated players coming to our club? I’m involved with our underage academy and I don’t see them. In recent competitions in 2012, larger hurling units attended U-8 hurling blitzes with panels of between 32 and 40 easily fielding five (eight-a-side) teams to our two. Do you see Kilmaley complaining that these clubs have populations above what we have? No, we concentrate on playing the game and we take our defeats and successes and leave it all on the field of play.”
He queried, “What has changed now, Mr Secretary, that you have purposelessly drafted this new bylaw to intentionally or otherwise target clubs like ours. I emphasise that others will be impacted as well. They know who they are and I would ask those to think through the implications for themselves fully. I sincerely hope that it is not because some larger clubs don’t like the emergence of Kilmaley or others as developing hurling forces in this county. I say to these clubs, ‘you have far bigger population bases than our own, and indeed any club in West Clare, so why take an interest in our club? Why don’t you just focus on promoting our games within your own clubs?’ Will you name the clubs that came forward and asked to change this bylaw?”
He stated Bord na nÓg had no problem implementing the current bylaw. “On a personal note, I have played for my club for 33 years at all levels and never once was there an issue with isolated players. I can only presume that because in that, timeframe we won only one U-16A Championship and one U-21B Championship other clubs/commentators didn’t care. So again I ask the question, Mr Secretary, why now is this seen as an issue?”
He said there are bigger issues facing the GAA with increasing competition from other codes.
“We have three soccer clubs in our parish, which we are in competition with, we have competition from a number of soccer clubs in Ennis, we have growing competition from rugby and athletics and so on. Clearly, time would be better spent trying to support urban clubs like Éire Óg, The Banner and Wolfe Tones, all great clubs with great people involved, who are under tremendous pressure to keep our games alive. My own club has lost 20 players to emigration over the last four years and this is typical of most rural clubs. Is the board and indeed the association at large doing anything to help out in this area other than lip service?
I’d like to call on all GAA clubs in Clare, both hurling and football big and small to vote against this motion. My club is passionate about what we believe in and personally, I believe it is our duty as an association to promote and develop our games to all. That is the only thing that should matter here tonight,” he concluded.

Totally illegal
Pointing out that the bylaw was changed in 2011, secretary Pat Fitzgerald said that up to then, “There were quite a number of underage amalgamations in the county, which were totally illegal and the wording was changed then because of that. In the proposed draft, now clubs in zone 1 and all clubs east and south of that can use the sentiment of the old bylaw with regard to adjoining or nearest clubs. For those outside of that area, they will have to apply to the committee, which will make the decision. They should apply early and if they are refused, they should have an opportunity to discuss their case with the committee. If they are still refused, they can appeal,” he said.
According to St Breckan’s secretary, John Hehir, “Some clubs are gaining advantage because of their geography. Looking through the convention booklet, 150 players were given permission last year to play with 17 different clubs. One hurling club had assistance from 27 players. We are suffering in North Clare.”
“That’s why we came up with the new draft. You cannot tell somebody where they should go. Everyone must apply and the committee will consider their application,” according to board secretary, Fitzgerald.
Naomh Eoin delegate Kieran Keating supported the new proposal and explained he is from Naomh Eoin but resides in Sixmilebridge. This will allow his children to play with Sixmilebridge and they can apply to play football with Naomh Eoin.
According to Ballyea’s Sean Griffin, this is difficult issue. “There have been a lot of loopholes for the last two years. There wasn’t enough flexibility there. This is the best opportunity to tidy up those loopholes and it should be supported.”
Miltown’s John Reidy asked how the nearest club is determined to which the chairman replied, “The committee will decide”.
Mick O’Neill (St Senan’s, Kilkee) told the meeting, “We have started a hurling section in St Senan’s and without isolated players, we would not be there. A number of players from neighbouring clubs have asked to play hurling with us. The stronger hurling clubs have cherry picked the better players.”
Stressing that Kilmaley “are fully in support of a club in Kilkee and we hope the board will give them every support,” Clancy stressed, “We have never cherry picked players”.
Bord na nÓg hurling chairman Martin Reynolds told the meeting, “We have no problem with the current bylaw. We have implemented it”.
In response to a query from Noel Walsh, Miltown, Pat Fitzgerald confirmed the bylaws have to be ratified by Croke Park.
Delegates then voted 55 to 16 in favour of the new draft thus giving the necessary two thirds majority.