*David O’Grady leaves the field of play assisted by Martin Cooney. Photograph: Natasha Barton.
FOUR officers are to step down from the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) which takes place later this month.
Correspondence has been issued to all CDSL clubs this week seeking nominations and motions for the upcoming AGM which is to be held on Monday June 29th in Treacy’s West County Hotel.
CDSL officers held a meeting online this week in advance of the AGM to try finalise amendments to a number of roles.
After one season in the respective roles of Fixtures Secretary and Public Relations Officer, David O’Grady and Eoghan McNulty have confirmed they will not be seeking re-election.
Also bowing out from the CDSL Committee are Nigel Bradish and Flan Hehir who served as Registrar and Assistant Secretary.
Nominations may also be submitted for positions on the Committee where outgoing officers have announced they are willing to continue in their various posts.
O’Grady a nine-time Clare Cup winner with Newmarket Celtic, was appointed Fixtures Secretary in August. The role is considered one of the most demanding in Clare soccer and has often been labelled “a poisoned chalice” by seasoned administrative veterans in the game. Injury led to the right back retiring from the game prior to the 2024/25 season, he was on the starting eleven for the Newmarket side crowned FAI Junior Cup champions in 2023.
Filling the void of Fixtures Secretary will not be an easy task. Donal Kirby held the role from 2014 to 2020 but since then Dean Russell’s two season stint which ended prior to last year’s AGM has been the longest an officer has served in the role.
Bridge Utd coach McNulty is stepping away from the role of PRO. The Sixmilebridge man oversaw an increase in the engagement on the CDSL’s social media pages to levels not visible since Oliver Fitzpatrick’s time as Chair which ended in September 2020. Head Coach of the Treaty Utd U14 side, McNulty was also part of the management of the Bridge Utd A side which finished second in the Maloney Hardware Premier Division and exited in the Clare Cup semi-finals. He served as Fixtures Secretary for four months in 2022 but resigned that November.
Elected Registrar at the 2024 AGM, Nigel Bradish has completed two seasons in the post and is not looking to continue. The Avenue Utd clubman is a former Treasurer of the Clare Schoolboys/Schoolgirls Soccer League (CSSL). He is currently secretary of the Roslevan based club who finished off the season by winning the Clare Cup for the fourteenth time.
Turnpike native Flan Hehir will also bid farewell to the CDSL Committee. Having stepped in as Secretary for the 2024/25 season, the Ennis man was persuaded to stay on as Assistant Secretary as Carolann McDonald took on the mantle. He has informed the CDSL Committee that he will not be continuing in the role. In 2016, he published ‘The Turnpike’, a 210-page book researched over two years charting the history of the area and the people who lived there.
Chairman Donal Magee is allowing his name forward to continue for a second season in the hotseat. The Shannon man is also nominated for Munster FA delegate for the fifth consecutive season.
McDonald is also nominated for a second season as Secretary with long-serving Vice Chairman Ronnie Pyne expressing an interest to remain in his post along. Ennis’ Frank Gormley is willing to continue for a third season as Treasurer.
Similarly, Paul Fitzgerald and Paul Kennedy have said they will allow their names forward as Women’s Officer and Youth Liaison/Child Protection Officer respectively. Chris Harrington and Jimmy Houlihan are expected to retain their spots as committee members.
Nominated CDSL Officers 2026/27
Chairman: Donal Magee (Shannon Town Utd)
Vice Chairman: Ronnie Pyne (Turnpike Rovers)
Secretary: Carolann McDonald (Shannon Olympic)
Asst Secretary: None
Treasurer: Frank Gormley (Avenue Utd)
Registrar: None
Fixtures Secretary: None
PRO: None
Grants/Compliance Officer: None
Women’s Officer: Paul Fitzgerald (Corofin Harps)
Youth Liaison/Child Protection: Paul Kennedy (Connolly Celtic)
Munster FA Delegate: Donal Mageee (Shannon Town Utd)
Committee: Chris Harrington (Coole FC)
Committee: Jimmy Houlihan (Shannon Hibs)
