Next Tuesday, the annual convention of Clare GAA will take place at the Auburn Lodge Hotel in Ennis. County secretary Pat Fitzgerald will raise many topics in a wide-ranging report. Sports Editor Seamus Hayes highlights these issues, along with details of the board’s finances, comments from the referees’ administrator and looks at some of the motions listed for debate

MATCH violence during the county minor hurling final marred the match and attracted unwanted national attention, county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald says in his report, which he will deliver to the annual convention of Clare GAA next Tuesday night.

“After a relatively quiet and inauspicious opening six months to the year, it would be a gross understatement to say the year ended in a similar pattern. Unfortunately, match violence raised its ugly head in the course of the county minor hurling final, deflecting public opinion away from the quality of the hurling on view and on the row that marred the match,” he says.

“Not for one minute would I or could I condone the behaviour that was witnessed that day. Admittedly the row, involving management and spectators of both clubs, blew over as quickly as it erupted but that is not to be flippant or trying to play down the seriousness of what occurred.

“I would be very strong on keeping a lid on internal issues, dealing with them in-house. However, this row was splashed across the national media with damning photographic evidence. One would have to question whether the matter would have earned such national exposure had the people involved not been such household names in the game? Somehow I doubt it,” he says.

“Nonetheless, people with such a high profile within the game at club and inter-county level should be able to show more restraint and show a better example to young, impressionable teenagers. Certainly, things can happen on the spur of the moment and with the benefit of hindsight, I would say that those involved, to a man, have regretted their actions. There will be no witch-hunt and neither will the matter be swept under the carpet.

“It is incumbent on Bord na nÓg to handle the issue without fear or favour and for us, the adult board, to ratify their decision. This issue has to be dealt with as any other such incident, irrespective of the personalities involved, and the punishment has to fit the crime. That is what has to happen and that is what will happen,” according to the secretary.
Continuing, Fitzgerald says, “Perhaps it affords us an opportunity to address a practice that has crept into the game, that of clubs delegating adult members as water boys for the purpose of having a greater presence on the sideline on match days”.

“Water boys should be just that, youngsters fulfilling the role. However, clubs bend the rules to suit their needs, leading to more adults being on the line than is normally permitted. It’s a loophole we need to fix and, if anything, we can stand indicted of not being rigid enough in that respect.

“Another unwelcome practice that has evolved in recent years is for teams to do man-marking jobs on their opponents. People are detailed to shadow members of the opposing management team, oft times leading to tensions on the sidelines, which can easily erupt into something much more sinister.

“It’s an unwelcome development and perhaps, on the day of games, just the team manager should be allowed patrol the lines, while his selectors should be seated in the dugout without the freedom to roam about the place,” he suggests.

Fixtures lead to increasing frustration
THE secretary also addresses the perennial problem with fixtures, which he says is the source of endless anxiety for clubs. He says clubs are becoming increasingly frustrated with the elongated club season and each year they are no nearer to finding a solution or happy medium.

“Year in, year out a committee burns the midnight oil drafting a master fixtures programme only for the schedule, which is supposed to be set in stone, to be adjusted at the drop of a hat. We don’t stick rigidly enough to it and each year we are pushing up against domestic deadlines for our county champions to fulfil their obligations in the provincial club championships. I think we have to revisit the area of scheduling once more and the timing of our championships and for the need to have our league competitions concluded before the championship starts,” he continues.

However, Fitzgerald says for that to happen there has to be flexibility with the clubs, the board and the inter-county management teams.
“Inter-county management teams cannot expect to have exclusivity of the players until their campaign is at an end. There has to be give and take with the clubs and with the management teams. I don’t think we should be playing our U-21 football championship at the back end of the year and neither should we be wrapping up the senior hurling league in the worst of the weather conditions, when games can become a lottery. Perhaps both should be accommodated in the earlier part of the year.

“For instance, Clonlara qualified for the semi-final of the Clare Champion Cup back in June, yet they didn’t get to play the final until almost five months later. Surely that it unacceptable,” the secretary says.

“We also had a situation this year where the Cratloe senior footballers played two championship games, both knock-out, in the space of four days. Players had spent all year training and yet their season was defined in a four-day timeframe, hardly ideal in the circumstances. Delegates should also note that five of the Cratloe team played in the All-Ireland U-21 hurling final on a Saturday and then played both senior football championship games, one of which was decided after extra time, in the space of a week. It was wholly unfair.

“Admittedly, the Cratloe club consented to the congested fixture programme realising, I suspect, that if there were any further setbacks that it would impinge greatly on them because of the dual club status. I firmly believe the board should have stepped in earlier and juggled their football schedule by bringing forward games where there was scope to manoeuvre, while we should have also insisted on Cratloe’s final group game with Clonlara in the hurling being decided on the toss of a coin as both had already qualified, thereby freeing up another weekend. On reflection, perhaps we should have put the boot in and ruled in that manner, rather than leaving it up to the clubs to find a consensus and a resolution.”

He says this year the GAA should see the benefits of the new competitions structures that were adopted last year for the football championship, with two teams being relegated and just the one promoted. He goes on to suggest that the Senior B Football Championship should be scrapped in its present format because he believes there is a lot of indifference to the championship.

“For the majority of clubs eliminated from the championship proper, their goal is to avoid relegation and once that has been achieved, they tend to lose interest. Consequently, they see their participation in the Senior B Championship as an inconvenience, nothing more and nothing less.

“I think there is real merit in the introduction of a Senior B tier in the football, just like there is in the hurling, and have the winners of the two divisions qualify for the quarter-final proper,” he suggests.

Need for investment in Cusack Park
WHILE Fitzgerald says the falling through of the once-mooted move to a greenfield site at Doora may have been a godsend, given the way the economy and property market have since crashed, he highlights the need for continuous investment in Cusack Park.

“Since the decision to refuse planning at Doora, the county board has spent over €200,000 in the upgrading of Cusack Park through drainage works and the replacement of the rusted perimeter fencing around the pitch. However, despite this outlay, there still remains a problem with the playing surface in times of incessant rain and when the water tables are high.

“We have invested substantially, yet the problem with the playing surface remains. It’s an area we will have to revisit with our advisors. This year, and not for the first time, the board has had to rely heavily on the goodwill of clubs for use of their facilities to conclude competitions in hurling and football. We are indebted to those clubs for their co-operation,” he says.

“There is no quick-fix solution against the forces of nature but what is of worry is the inability of the board to undertake major work because of their financial constraints. The board is determined to press ahead with the delivery of the centre of excellence at Caherlohan. Already we have invested over €3 million in the project and, as we speak, work is progressing satisfactorily on the construction of the clubhouse complex, paving the way for the facility to be ready for use mid-2013. This should help curtail the board’s outlay in hiring facilities for county teams to train and conduct their preparations going forward. That we have reached the stage we have in the depressed economic climate is down to prudent management of our finances and savings have been made where savings could be made,” according to the secretary.

He also says that, not for the first year, they trimmed back on expenditure in the preparation of the county teams. He also acknowledges the players who fundraised, taking that necessity out of the hands of the board, to ensure they lacked nothing in their championship preparations.

“Unfortunately, things continue to be tough on the financial front and as delegates are aware, Cusack Park has also been downgraded and thereby has lost its lure to attract marquee games. The knock-on effect of that is that our ability to generate revenues as a host venue is greatly restricted.

For the second year running, despite introducing ticketing incentives commensurate with the economic times, our take from the club championships are also down, so against this financial background, we will have to prioritise our expenditure during the coming year.”

Fitzgerald believes Caherlohan has to take precedence. “We cannot afford to curtail our expenditure on the project, albeit not at the rate we would like but the quicker it comes on stream, the better. The benefits will be enormous in that it will save on the renting of facilities in places like Lees Road, Limerick Institute of Technology and University of Limerick for the preparation of our teams,”

Development squad concept is reaping rewards
TURNING to the performances of inter-county teams, Fitzgerald pays tribute to the U-21 hurlers, who captured their second Munster and All-Ireland titles in the space of four years. He says it is a remarkable achievement and is also proof that the development squad concept is reaping rewards.

“Fortunate to win the Munster title, thanks to a last-gasp goal, they pushed on and playing an attractive and refreshing brand of hurling, defeated Kilkenny in the All-Ireland final in the style of champions. Well coached, their hurling was sublime, the work ethos commendable and the management team of Gerry O’Connor, Donal Moloney, Paul Kinnerk and Jimmy Browne deserve the plaudits.

“Indeed, the minors came close to winning a third successive Munster minor title, losing to favourites Tipperary in a well contested final, which could have gone either way. In the All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Dublin they were left to rue missed chances and their inability to close out a game, losing to a late sucker punch that exposed a fatal defensive frailty. Nonetheless, the players should draw encouragement from their performances and the knowledge that, on their day, they are a match for anybody.”

He goes on to say that Davy Fitzgerald took over the role of senior team manager earlier this year with a ringing endorsement from the clubs and he says his appointment came at a time when Clare hurling finds itself in a good place.
“Two Munster minor titles in the last four years, two All-Ireland U-21 titles in the same period, he has inherited the nucleus of a squad of players who know how to win. With that winning mentality comes confidence. The big obstacle, though, is transferring that onto the senior stage.

“This year, Davy was finding his feet with the squad and yet they managed to win the Division 2 National League title, something that had eluded them in recent years. Competing week in, week out with the top teams in the country will provide an accurate yardstick as to where Clare stand and what work requires to be done to ensure they stay where they’ve worked so hard to get to.

“Progress was made but the challenge this year is to step that up a notch or two. Indeed, Clare’s standing in hurling was embellished with the selection of Seadhna Morey as Bord Gais U-21 Emerging Talent Player of the Year, while Whitegate’s Brendan Bugler became the latest All-Star from the Banner County.”

Turning to football, he says the seniors remain rooted in the lowest echelon of league football, which he says is not only disheartening but also a serious drawback come championship time. He points to the Munster final against Cork, where he says the gap in standards was apparent and a lot of defensive naivety made that gap worse.

“Clare’s immediate priority must be in winning promotion from Division 4. With the appointment of such a high-profile figure as Mick O’Dwyer as manager, he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. He has also surrounded himself with people who have a good understanding of Clare football and Ger Keane, Michael Neylon and Micheál Cahill are people who are passionate about Clare football. It augurs well going forward.

“Micko’s presence should generate enthusiasm with the players who are being afforded the opportunity of working with one of the best managers in the history of the game. It will require hard work and total commitment to the cause. Micko has proved his worth wherever he has been. There’s no reason why his stint in Clare cannot be successful. For that to happen, the players must buy into his philosophy and so too must the supporters.

Clare football doesn’t need division; it needs everybody pulling in the same direction.”

Turning to the club scene, he pays special tribute to Kilmurry Ibrickane, Newmarket and Clarecastle, who all completed doubles, while he also pays tribute to the other championship and league winners.

Changes at the top
THIS year’s convention will witness the departure of four outgoing board officers from the positions they currently hold. Under the five-year rule, Michael O’Neill (chairman), Des Crowe (assistant secretary), Syl O’Connor (PRO) and Tom Burke (Irish and culture officer) have no option but to step down.

In his report, Fitzgerald pays tribute to the four saying, “All have been trojan workers and have given unselfishly of their time and energies for the betterment of the association in the county. Undoubtedly, we will be at a loss from their departure and their successors will have hard acts to follow.”

 

‘There appears to be a flagrant disregard for rules’

IN a detailed report to convention, Clare referees’ administrator Ger Hickey says Clare GAA witnessed some “worrying” developments in the scale of ill-discipline at all levels of the organisation.

“Most notably is the number of reports of ill-discipline experienced by referees officiating for the underage boards, especially with mentors in charge of underage teams,” he says.
“There appears to be a flagrant disregard for rules, responsibility and common courtesy by some adults, who take charge of impressionable young players and this leads to all sorts of problems for referees and their officials in managing games.”

The referees will, according to Hoey, “continue to work with clubs and the county executive in addressing the numerous issues with regards to discipline as there is a greater worry that many referees will walk away from the role due to bad experiences during games. The loss of even one referee with huge potential, due to abuse and ill-discipline, is too great a risk for the individual referee and the association to contemplate.”

Hoey’s report goes on, “Another area of concern for referees is the outcome of a number of appeals taken by clubs and players to the Central Hearings Committee on foot of the Competition Control Committee imposing sanctions based on the referees’ report.
“In the application of the rules, the CCC will deliberate and decide on each infraction contained in the referees’ report, which is the official account of each match played.

“What is causing disquiet for referees is the outcome of a number of CHC hearings where the incident, as reported in the referees’ report, has been overturned based on other evidence presented to the CHC. This is a worrying trend and one has to question the status of the referee’s report in the management of our games should this trend continue.”

He pays special tribute to Flan O’Reilly, who in 2012 reached the milestone of refereeing over 2,500 games in his career. Flan is also treasurer of the Clare Referees’ Committee.

 

Team expenses up 20%

CLARE GAA treasurer Bernard Keane will tell convention delegates next week that income for the year amounted to €1,511,244 while expenditure for the same period came to €1,489,517, a surplus of €21,727 on the year’s activities.

Gate receipts for the year amounted to €383,860, which reflects a drop from the previous year when the figure was €447,731. The county’s national league share amounted to €82,814, which was almost double that of the previous year. Commercial income came to €201,154, while fundraising brought in €96,258.

On the expenditure side, team expenses cost €671,570, which reflects an increase of just over €100,000. Coaching and development cost €367,407, administration expenses came to €158,605, while the upkeep and maintenance of grounds cost €99,135.

Auditor Anthony Fitzpatrick expresses concern “that the costs of team expenses have increased substantially by 20%. This rate of increase is unsustainable. “The board’s audit committee, who have again done some excellent work during the year, have been advised of my concerns.”
A breakdown of the team expenses reveals that players’ travel came to €267,842, catering cost €143,656, medical, physiotherapy and masseurs cost €86,353, buses and overnights cost €53,255, sports gear, equipment and laundry came to €79,531 and training facilities €20,856.
Under administration expenses, the cost of wages, salaries and taxes was €76,606, printing, stationery and advertising cost €12,314, postage, telephone and website costs came to €12,055, audit and accountancy cost €10,025, complimentary tickets cost €23,747 and depreciation came to €42,128.

Work on the development of the Centre of Excellence at Tulla continued with expenditure of €719,666, which was funded by Central Council.
The report states, “the board’s total assets, which stood at €5,527,168 at October 31, improved by €38,353 in the year under review”.