Kilmaley GAA club held its annual general meeting at the clubhouse last week, when Conor Clancy and Bernie Burke stepped down as chairman, having served three years, and treasurer, after serving five years.

Noel McGough is the new club chairman and a follow-on club meeting will be held to ratify Emmet Pyne as club treasurer, as he was unable to attend the AGM due to work commitments. Martin O’Malley was appointed as U-18 team manager for 2013.
Financial reports were delivered by the club treasurer, Bernie Burke, and her assistant, Marie Lynch. Both were recognised for their outstanding work with the Kilmaley GAA lotto over the year.
The success of the U-14A team which won Féile honours and the minor hurlers in capturing the county A title was highlighted, along with the involvement of a large number of players with county squads, in particular Daire Keane and Michael O’Neill’s achievement with the Clare U-21s in winning All-Ireland honours and Conor Cleary and Aidan McGuane with the county minors.
Outgoing chairman Conor Clancy also paid tribute to all involved in helping the club win the Bord na nÓg A club of the year award. This was the club’s second time receiving this award in three years.
However, he stressed that even though the club is certainly making strides in the right direction, everyone must ensure that all involved continue to focus on underage player development that is critical to keeping the club to the forefront of underage hurling in Clare. “This must be the top priority and complacency must not be allowed to set in,” he said.
Both the chairperson and secretary paid tribute to all who helped to prepare the teams and all who coached and trained other teams in the parish. They also acknowledged all who organised, supported and contributed to the different fundraising events that were held during the year in particular all involved with the Féile fundraising committee that raised over €20,000.
The chairman also took the opportunity to recognise Kilmaley’s only referee, Martin Kennedy, along with David Dillon on his outstanding efforts on the yearly publication of the club magazine in chronicling the activities of the Kilmaley club, a role he first took on in 1980.
Finally, both the chairman and secretary acknowledged all who were involved in the field development committee in 2012 and commended them on securing €80k of funding from the Capital Sports Lottery grant. Despite many setbacks, this group have made huge progress as the club strives to complete the development of a state-of-the-art project.
The following were elected for 2013: president, Canon M McLaughlin; chairman, Noel McGough; vice-chairman, Conor Clancy; assistant treasurer, Bernie Burke; secretary, Martin Moloney; registrar, Steven Clancy; Bord na nÓg delegate, Noel Clancy; county board delegate, Martin Enright; coaching and games officer, Donie Neylon; PRO/cultural and language officer, Eugene McMahon; children’s officer, Sean Hehir; field manager, Freddie Markham.

Clarecastle underage

The CADÓg (Clarecastle GAA Underage) AGM took place in the clubhouse last week when the majority of officers were returned for 2013. Pat Barry and Stephen Sheedy were elected onto the underage executive for the coming year. The only post that wasn’t filled was that of PRO.
Those elected were: chairman, Fergie O’Loughlin; vice-chairman, Mark O’Connell; secretary, Peter Donnelly; purchasing officer, Michael Ryan; child welfare officer, James McMahon; coaching committee co-ordinator, Mike Wallace; PRO, to be filled. Bord na nÓg hurling delegate, Pat Barry; Bord na nÓg football delegate, Donal Vaughan; underage membership officer, Stephen Sheedy.
The annual meeting of the Clarecastle senior club will take place on Sunday, January 6, in the clubhouse at 4pm.
The Clarecastle GAA 125 celebration dinner dance will take place in the West County Hotel, Ennis, on Saturday, January 19, at 8pm. This special occasion will honour the landmark anniversary of the club as well as the junior hurling, football and ladies football championship winning sides of 2012.
Tickets can be purchased from Power’s, Navins, The Magpie or by contacting Eimear at 086 0565785.