Davy Browne was elected chairman of the Clare Ladies Football County Board at their annual convention on Friday in the West County Hotel, Ennis. The Doonbeg club man succeeds Alan Copley, who stood down after one year in the post due to work commitments. However, the AGM will resume again next Monday night at 8pm at the same venue to complete the election of officers.

Former chairman Johnny Hill and outgoing PRO, Mary Keane, were also nominated for the post of chairperson but both withdrew their candidacy.

James Lafferty was elected to the positions of treasurer and registrar. Outgoing treasurer Trudy Davenport did not seek re-election, while Lafferty was the only nomination to fill the role of registrar.

Meanwhile, the positions of secretary, assistant secretary and PRO remain vacant. Outgoing secretary Michael Fitzgerald, who has served for seven years, did not seek re-election, although he was nominated for the post, along with Johnny Hayes.

Both the underage and adult PRO roles also remain vacant. Outgoing adult PRO Mary Keane stood down from the role, while underage PRO Alan Copley did not seek re-election either.

The county board is still seeking to fill the vacant ladies senior football management team.

Darragh Kelly (Kilkee) managed Clare for their 2012 championship campaign after Noelle Comyn resigned following Clare’s Division 2 League semi-final loss to Galway.

 

Resignation by e-mail

Outgoing Clare Ladies Football County Board secretary, Michael Fitzpatrick, revealed that he learned of senior manager Noelle Comyn’s resignation via e-mail.

“On returning from the UK, I read an e-mail sent while I was away, stating that the senior manager had resigned. This was a repeat of 2011 when another manager did the very same thing,” the secretary said in his report on 2012.

He also made it clear that the Clare Camogie County Board will allow their new facilities in Fr McNamara Park to be used for ladies football.

“The Clare Camogie Board has already made it clear that the ladies football board will be included in the schedule for the new facility. I urge the incoming board to talk to the camogie board to work out a plan that both codes can benefit from,” Fitzpatrick added.

In conclusion the outgoing secretary urged clubs to ensure that all players are properly registered.

“If I could offer some advice to the incoming board it would be to try and stamp out unregistered players, appoint somebody to take charge of the cups and continue the co-operation with the camogie board,” he said.

Financial details outlined

THE Clare Ladies Football County Board was left with a balance of €21,054.74 at the end of 2011. The balance brought forward from last year’s AGM was €27,890.96. Outgoing treasurer, Trudy Davenport’s report stated the board spent €143,145.68 last year, while income amounted to €135,946.46.

Amongst the income detailed was €9,924.01 from the senior players fund while €9,628.60 was realised from match gate income. A total of €5,948 was accrued from development income, while affiliation income came to €3,630.

On the expenditure front €17,298 was spent on senior team expenses, with miscellaneous expenditure amounting to €26,641.95. Registration to Central Council cost €51,637.