Masters fixtures plan ratified at meeting

The masters fixtures schedule for 2011, as outlined at the January board meeting, was ratified at this week’s GAA county board meeting despite strong opposition from Doonbeg’s Michael Neenan.
The county senior football champion’s delegate voiced strong opposition to the proposed 10-week gap between the first and second rounds of the championship and he called on clubs to defer making a decision and spend more time examining the schedule with a view to change. “We can’t support this but I haven’t the answers,” he told the meeting. “Ten weeks between rounds is not acceptable. None of our county teams have benefitted from this,” he added. “Why should we rush. There is no reason why we can’t play when we are out of the Munster championship. It’s backwards we are going,” he said.
Neenan then questioned the make-up of the committee that drew up the plan. “There was no football club represented,” he said. Chairman Michael O’Neill asked him to withdraw that statement, as he pointed out that Cathal Nagle from Kilfenora, the county junior A football champions, was on the committee.
“Well, there was no senior club represented,” Neenan answered before being taken to task by secretary, Pat Fitzgerald, who pointed out that Mike Deegan from Cratloe was part of the committee.
“Well, there was no one from West Clare on the committee,” replied the Doonbeg delegate.
“This was given out to the clubs two weeks ago and we asked for any proposals within a week. We got nothing. You have no counter proposal here tonight. You say play in July but all of that month is taken up with qualifier rounds,”said chairman Michael O’Neill.
County secretary Pat Fitzgerald asked the Doonbeg delegate if he was saying that the intermediate, junior A and junior B championships not start until August.
Pádraig O’Brien from Meelick said, “There are more than senior clubs involved here. Not all clubs are blessed with having a senior team,” he said.
Kilmurry-Ibrickane secretary, Michael Considine supported Doonbeg’s view with regard to the 10-week break between rounds in the senior championship. “It’s a joke, a farce”, he said.
Joe McNamara, St Joseph’s, said, “The parameters were very clear. On the day after the last meeting we gave copies of this plan to our players. A week was long enough for people to come back with proposed changes.”
Kildysart chairman, John Meade said, “It seems that a lot of football clubs only have tunnel vision. We are a county board and people should look at the notes that were sent out with the plan.”
Tulla’s Declan Hogan proposed that the plan be ratified and asked that once the dates are agreed that they be adhered to.
Lissycasey, Wolfe Tones and Clondegad all asked about the availability of players for the opening rounds of the leagues, given that the Clare U-21 panel is due to be away that weekend.
Chairman, Michael O’Neill replied, “All players will be available to the clubs and I am surprised that this is even an issue.”
The delegates agreed to accept the plan as outlined at the January meeting.