*Photograph: Gerard O’Neill.
MIXED views persist among GAA clubs in Clare on what grades should be in place for underage competitions while Coiste Peil na nÓg failed in their bid to amend the structure for the U16 championship.
Caherlohan’s astro-turf remains on course to be completed by the end of October, Chairman Kieran Keating confirmed at the October meeting of the County Board held in Kilrush.
Another Munster competition:
The winners of the Clare intermediate hurling championship (Banner or Inagh/Kilnamona) will have the opportunity to play for the Provincial title this week’s November county board meeting was told.
Since the introduction of a premier intermediate grade in Clare only the winners of that title get to play in the championship run by the Provincial body
Newport GAA club (Tipperary) have been given permission by the Munster Council to run the new competition. Reports from referees on games will be dealt with by the Munster Council.
On the proposition of Robert Frost seconded by Paddy Smyth, Clare GAA supported the organisation of the new competition.
Grant Aid:
Clare GAA have been awarded €103,000 from the Capital Infrastructure fund, chairman Kieran Keating informed Tuesday’s meeting at Kilrush GAA. This money which is 70% of the estimated cost will go towards upgrading works at Cusack Park. He expects that the works on toilets and seating will be completed before next year’s championship.
Later in the meeting Munster Council delegate Joe Garry informed the attendance that Clare will receive a €500,000 grant from the council’s capital structure programme fund,
Caherlohan astro:
Work on the development of the astro pitch at Caherlohan is on course and expected to be completed on schedule at the end of the month.
Addressing the October board meeting Kieran Keating said “the goalposts are up, lights are up but not connected yet but ready to be connected.
“We have gone to tender on other elements, the design of the building, the ball wall and the insulation of lights on pitches one and two. Pitches six and seven will be going to tender shortly. We are concentrating on the items we hope to start on this winter”, the chairman told the meeting.
Replying to a query from Wolfe Tones delegate Joe Kelly, the chairman said “in relation to the design of the building we invited six or seven firms we thought might be interested including Horgan/Lynch from Cork and others closer to home. With regard to the lighting tender process there are probably only two or three that would be interested as there are specialists firms that do that”.
Finance:
Treasurer Cathal Kilmartin expressed thanks to county team managers Brian Lohan, Paul Madden, Cillian Rouine and Brian Kelleher for their support for the video promoting the Banner bonanza draw while he also told delegates that the board’s books were being prepared for audit ahead of convention.
Club Levy:
Board chairman Kieran Keating informed the meeting that “we got some work done in terms of analysing club membership and all of that and what levies clubs are paying. At the moment we have eight different types of levies from €650 up to €1,500. The proposal is to have four levels is for four, €600, €900, €1,200 and €1,500 and we will circulate the proposed details to the clubs. There isn’t a lot of movement for most clubs but there are a few for whom it will be slightly more. Ennistymon football and hurling had been sharing a levy when it was originally set up and the levy Ennistymon football had been paying is small for the size of a club they are. Banner were a small club when the levy came in and they are no longer a small club. They are one of our biggest clubs in terms of playing numbers, their levy will jump by a few hundred”.
He said details will be forwarded to the clubs and a decision can be made at the next meeting.
Replying to a query from P.J.McGuane, Cooraclare who asked what is the purpose of the levy and where does it finish up the chairman said “the original levy was to back stop the loan from AIB. We had funds in our account which was earning no interest when I came in so we paid off the loan and at the end of 2024 we discussed this county board and the clubs agreed to leave the levy in place for five years which would give us €60,000 for capital projects. It’s for capital projects in the county to enable us to improve our facilities and apply for grants”.
Replying McGuane said “when the levy was first introduced it was specifically for the upkeep and development of Cusack Park and I would prefer if that was still the case because Caherlohan will have to stand on its own because there are enough of grants coming into Caherlohan. Work on improvements at Cusack Park will be ongoing for the next ten or fifteen years”.
“I don’t have an issue with that “, replied the chairman. “I would be happy to see the money being spent there. We will be spending a hundred or two hundred thousand there every year so as not to let it fall into disrepair”.
Convention Date:
The annual convention of Clare GAA will take place on Tuesday December 15 at Hotel Woodstock.
Cooraclare delegate P.J. McGuane asked for confirmation of what officers will be stepping down. “Clubs need to know in time and we don’t want to come into a meeting and be told that someone has stepped down and that a replacement is in place”.
Replying Kieran Keating said that his term (five years) as chairman is up as is the term of Paddy Smyth (Planning and training officer) and that of vice chairman Michael O’Connor.
Age grades:
There were mixed views from clubs in the latest debate concerning what underage age grade competitions should be run in the county.
Currently competitions are at under 13, under 15 and under 17 levels and, at a recent meeting on this topic, there was big support to change back to under 14, under 16 and under 18.
Before the debate got underway at Tuesday’s meeting Conor Shannon, Clare’s Talent and Performance development lead, gave a very informative presentation dealing with game time involved, injury issues among other items.
A proposed fixture calendar in the event of Clare changing to even age competitions was shown to the delegates and this showed that should the change come about, under 16 and under 18 competitions would be run n tandem and for dual players this would mean four games in fourteen days.
The main issue for delegates concerned the impact the change would have for players between the ages of 17 and 18.
Representatives from a number of clubs were strong in the view that they needed to have those players available to their adult team and this view was strongly put by Kieran O’Mahoney of Doonbeg and Cooraclare delegate PJ McGuane.
Clonlara’s Flan Mullane said they also supported changing to under 18 but stressed “there must be decupling. Player welfare must come before everything”, he said.
Coaching officer Fintan Leamy said “player welfare has to trump everything and there must be patience”.
Head of Operations Ann Marie Moran pointed out that minor competition at inter county level will remain at under 17 for 2027 but there may be a change for 2028 depending on a decision to be made at Congress next year.
Banner delegate Colm Browne said, “the present calendar is working really well” while Bodyke’s Sean O’Halloran favoured switching to under 18 for 2028. Sixmilebridge delegate P.J. Fitzpatrick saw “no reason to change for next year. We have to protect our players”.
Clarecastle’s Tommuu Guilfoyle favoured changing to under 18 for next year but added “there has to be decupling”.
Board chairman Kieran Keating said “schools are a part of this puzzle and must be taken into consideration”.
A final decision as to what grades will apply will be made at the next board meeting which will be part of the annual structures meeting and which is scheduled for Tuesday November 24.
Demographics:
Three meetings are to be held across the county in November in relation to fnalising a report on demographics and how all clubs are affected.
There will be a meeting in mid Clare for dual clubs, one in Scariff for East Clare clubs and a further one at a venue to be confirmed for clubs from West and North Clare, Clare’s demographic officer Neil O’Brien told the meeting.
Scór na nÓg:
Clare’s Scór na nÓg competition will take place on November 1st at Cois na hAbhna, Joe Garry, Munster Council delegate told the meeting when appealing to clubs to take part in the competitions.
Handball:
Mike Kelly extended good wishes to Clarecastle, Kilkishen, Tulla and Tuamgraney ahead of their challenge for Munster club honours over the coming weeks.
Under 16 football structure remains:
The under 16 football structure as decided earlier in the season, remains in place after a proposal for a change in the format was withdrawn due to a lack of support.
There was criticism from a number of delegates over the fact that details of the new format was only e-mailed to clubs earlier on Tuesday.
Fergal Neylon (Corofin) and P.J. McGuane (Cooraclare) explained that they had no instruction from their clubs as to what way to vote on the issue.
The proposal came from Joe Considine, chairman Coiste Peil na nÓg told the meeting that “we met with the clubs last Wednesday. Thirteen of the clubs were represented at the meeting and Frances (O’Sullivan, Coiste na nÓg secretary) would have outlined the details. Division A clubs will be stand alone and division B and C clubs will be amalgamated for the competition with three rounds, semi-finals and finals. Groups will consist of four teams, two from A and two B/C teams”.
Continuing he said “teams from the Western seaboard are probably resigned to playing division 3 football at underage for their careers. Teams from the population centres dominate the landscape. The reason for this competition is to bring smaller clubs. We already have it with Clann Lir and with Western Gaels at under 13 level. It creates a more competitive environment. The 16’s is a secondary competition. Where there are changes there will be different views. This is an opportunity for a Doonbeg player and a Cooraclare player to come together. Clubs were split at last week’s meeting and we have taken that on board and come up with this proposal as a result. This is a small step ad I ask that you support this for one year at least. If it doesn’t work it doesn’t”, he said.
He went on to say “we are dispensing with B and C competitions and we are bringing teams in those grades together to form teams”, he added.
After a discussion board chairman Kieran Keating observed that the proposal was unlikely to receive the 60% support required and this led to the proposer Joe Considine withdrawing the proposal.
