Tag Archives: Clare GAA County Board

AN explosive war of words has broken out between two-time All-Ireland winning manager, Ger Loughnane and Clare GAA County Board chairman, Michael McDonagh. Mr Loughnane has told The Clare Champion that he believes Mr McDonagh’s position as board chairman is “utterly untenable”, while he has also insisted that the Miltown Malbay clubman, who is serving his second term as chairman, is using his GAA role to aid his campaign to seek a Fianna Fáil nomination at this Friday night’s convention in Ennis. Mr McDonagh has denied this suggestion and claims the former Clare manager is setting out to derail his political ambitions. “Comments I have made in my remit as chairman of the county board, during the past fortnight and throughout my tenure, have always been made in the best interests of Clare GAA and in my capacity as chairman only. The suggestion that any comments I have made are self-serving or politically motivated are wrong and appear to me …

Clare senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald and his football counterpart Colm Collins have informed Clare GAA of their intention to complete their managerial terms and remain in charge of the county sides for 2016. In a statement issued through county board public relations officer, Sean O’Halloran the board said it welcomes and fully supports the commitments received from both managers and “looks forward to their review of their respective 2015 campaigns as well as an outline of their plans for 2016”. Board chairman Michael McDonagh was equally delighted with developments. He said, “I am delighted that Colm and Davy are committed to remaining in their respective positions for 2016. Whileeveryone associated with Clare GAA is disappointed with the progress ofboth teams during 2015, we firmly believe that there are better things in store, and both Davy and Colm are the right people to lead their teams forward.”

There has been mixed reaction to the report from the GAA Central Council working group, which proposes the completion of all fixtures in a calendar year. If approved, this will operate from 2016. The report argues that the recommendations will enable counties and provinces to complete their competitions in sufficient time for the All-Ireland Club Championships in junior, intermediate and senior by December. The main recommendations in the report are: – The All-Ireland Club Championship finals, at all grades, be played over a single ‘club weekend’ each December; – On a two-year pilot basis, the All-Ireland hurling and football finals should each be brought forward by one week from their current dates; – All-Ireland final replays should take place on the Saturday immediately after the drawn game; – Provincial championship draws in football and hurling should take place in late August of the competition year; these draws should be structured so that the club champions of counties still involved in …