Resounding victory for McDonagh

Michael McDonagh, Miltown St Joseph’s, is, this weekend, beginning a second stint as chairman of Clare GAA.

 

Five years after he stepped down from the post, he was given a resounding vote of confidence by the clubs of the county who voted 152 to 41 for him in his contest with Noel O’Driscoll to succeed Michael O’Neill.

When the result was announced he immediately paid tribute to O’Driscoll. “For the past three weeks we have crossed the county together. I believe that something that should always happen at convention is that there should be an election. My mind has been opened. The issues now are before us”.

“I am a very proud Miltown man and I want to thank my club, the three clubs in my parish, Moy and Clonbony along with my own. I am very proud of them and I know they are proud of me,” he said.

“When I was here the last time, we had a tiger roaring and we thought it would never stop but it has stopped. We have young lads who have emigrated. We have people unemployed; we have clubs in problems, as they haven’t got the numbers. I hope we can come back here in a few years time with every club in tact.

“We are going to have a few hard meetings in January. I have been around the county, People are saying to me that they will be coming in with requests for assistance and whatever else. We are going to have to deal with them with honesty. We have to ensure that the all survive. We have to further our games in the urban areas,” McDonagh.

Continuing he said, “hurling is striving at the moment. I hope that there will be many more All-Irelands in the coming years. In football, we are doing our best. Mick O’Dwyer and his team are doing well, Michael Nealon is doing well with the minors”.

“We have to protect our dual players. We have more now than ever. Who would have predicted that the centre back in the Clare minor hurling team this year would be a Miltown man. Drawing up the masters’ fixture plan is very important. That will be in January and February and straight talking will be needed,” he said.

He went on to pay tribute to the Clare camogie board on opening their own playing facilities and he suggested that the GAA board will have to assist the ladies football board with the use of Ballyline playing field. He also paid tribute to the handball board.

“I am looking forward to seeing the opening of the centre of excellence in Caherlohan, which is important for the county,” he said. He paid a special tribute to Crusheen native Pat O’Donnell who continues to be the county’s main sponsor.

Speaking to the media he said, “when I was here before we had our ups and downs. I have learned a lot and I can tell ye we will have our ups and ups and there will be no downs”.

He went on to remember a number of former players, club officials and relations who assisted him when he was first elected as chairman almost a decade ago.

He had a special remembrance for a great friend, “the late Michael Mahony and the late Michael Haran who was chairman of the urban board”.

“You have given me a great honour.  Thank you all sincerely,” he concluded.