*Jason Ryan was elected Chairman of the CDSL. Photograph: Martin Connolly
The liveliest debate at Monday’s annual general meeting of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) developed from a motion from Rhine Rovers which asked that two teams from the same club be allowed play in the same division.
“The ten best teams should be playing in the premier division”, said Rory O’Connor when proposing that rules be changed to allow for this to happen.
Opposing the proposal Brendan Wall from Shannon Hibs said “it’s ridiculous to have two teams from the one club competing for the one trophy. There would be vested interests”.
Supporting the proposal Ronnie Pyne, the league vice chairman said “at present teams finishing fifth and sixth in the First Division are expected to go up and play in the Premier League if B teams like Avenue United, Newmarket Celtic, Bridge United or Shannon Town were to finish in the first four places on the league table. It’s a good motion”, said the Turnpike Rovers clubman who went on to tell the attendance that “we did this in the schoolboys league and where there were two teams from the same club, they played each other in the first two games”.
“The proper solution is to have a reserve league”, according to newly elected CSSL Chair Wall.
Newmarket Celtic’s Liam Murphy said “we have been strong at A and B levels but that doesn’t last forever. This motion will divide our club. The B team is used as a stepping stone for our youths”.
League PRO Jim Madden asked “if our premier league has B teams is it a premier league”.
League chairman Jason Ryan told the meeting “this is a big issue for all the clubs and it’s too big an issue to vote on tonight” before suggesting to the delegates “take time out and think about this and come back to the first delegate meeting and decide then”, a view supported by Madden and accepted by the meeting.
In his report to the meeting treasurer Tony Downey reported an income of €74,347.00 with expenditure of €64,668.00 during the two year period under review. This resulted in a profit of €9,679.00 for the period. He thanked the clubs for their support after his report was adopted on the proposition of Mark Connellan (Inch Crusaders) and seconded by Jonathan Lane (Corofin Harps).
Earlier secretary Denis Collins (Ennis Town) read the minutes of the last AGM which took place on June 26, 2019 and the minutes of the league’s EGM on March 1 last both of which were unanimously adopted.
At the outset league chairman Jason Ryan welcomed all delegates and he also welcomed Barry Cotter from the Munster FA before informing all present that the new season will commence on the first weekend in July. He thanked all for “following the Covid guidelines” before appealing to the clubs “to continue to follow these guidelines as the new season gets underway.
Munster FA’s Barry Cotter thanked the league “for the opportunity to attend this meeting. It’s been a tough 18 months and credit is due to the clubs for sticking to all the guidelines”. He then took over as chairman for the election of officers and accepted a proposal that the committee be elected en bloc.
The following are the members of the executive for the coming season:
Chairman: Jason Ryan (Kilrush Rangers)
Vice Chairman: Ronnie Pyne (Turnpike Rovers)
Secretary: Denis Collins (Ennis Town)
Treasurer: Tony Downey (Ennis Town)
Fixtures secretary: Brendan Browne (Manus Celtic)
P.R.O: Jim Madden (Shannon Olympic)
Munster delegate: Thomas Leahy (Avenue United)
Child Protection officer: Tommy Molloy (Avenue United)
Women’s officer: Frank Burke (Burren United)
Committee: Ger Kelly (Shannon Town) and Alan McCoy (Newmarket Celtic).
