Cilléin Mullins of Crusheen has been one of the isolated players lining out with Corofin. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography
ISOLATED players continues to be one of the major sticking points among GAA clubs in Clare.
At County Convention, a proposal from the Executive to streamline where players from an exclusively hurling club could play football with and where players from an exclusively football club could play hurling with was defeated.
Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating said the proposal was “to tidy up the relegations. We did it with hurling a few years ago We have one set of rules for hurlers going to football clubs and we didn’t have it for footballers going to hurling clubs”.
Clare GAA officials as part of their proposal devised a list detailing what clubs isolated players could line out with. Hurlers from Ruan, Kilmaley or Inagh/Kilnamona would be allowed play football with Banner. Newmarket-on-Fergus and Ballyea hurlers could play football with Clarecastle while Clooney/Quin’s football club would be able to accept hurlers from Tulla, Crusheen, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Killanena and Sixmilebridge. Crusheen’s hurlers playing football would also have the choice to go to St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
For Clondegad football club they could only accept hurlers from Ballyea. Hurlers from Ruan, Inagh/Kilnamona and Tubber would have the option to play for Corofin. Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus would also be able to choose Cratloe for isolated footballers. Wolfe Tones would only be able to accept players from Newmarket-on-Fergus.
Hurlers with Kilkee/Bealaha would be attached to Doonbeg football club or St Senan’s Kilkee with Kilmihil and Lissycasey the locations for Kilmaley hurlers. Ennistymon football club would accept isolated hurlers from Inagh/Kilnamona and Ennistymon hurling club. Kilmurry Ibrickane would be the club for isolated hurlers from Kilmaley and Inagh/Kilnamona. Another option for Inagh/Kilnamona’s hurlers would be St Joseph’s Miltown who were also entitled to accept hurlers from Clonbony.
Michael Cusacks in Carron would be an option for isolated players in Tubber as per the guidine. O’Callaghans Mills would be the football club for isolated hurlers from Tulla, Bodyke, Broadford, Sixmilebridge, Feakle, Killanena, Ogonnelloe, Scariff, Smith O’Briens and Whitegate.
Parteen/Meelick would be the football club for isolated hurlers from Clonlara, Smith O’Briens and Ogonnelloe.
Planning and training officer with Clare GAA, Paddy Smyth seconded the proposal at County Convention.
Speaking at County Convention, St Joseph’s Miltown delegate Gerry Curtin pointed out that the proposal only allowed them to have players with Clonbony which is in their own parish and Inagh/Kilnamona. “We have a long standing association with Kilmaley going back over thirty years”.
Anthony O’Halloran of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield commented, “we have a long association with Ruan and this is not reflected in this proposal”.
David Barry of Michael Cusacks spoke of the “long standing link between his club and Tubber and they are now linked with Corofin”. He requested that the motion be withdrawn.
Tubber’s Andrew Monahan also spoke of the long running association between Tubber and Michael Cusacks and he went on to say “there is no reference to Ballyvaughan here, a club that needs support”.
Ruan’s Ger Lyons said “this needs more consultation and ye can bring it again next year”.
Refusing to withdraw he motion, board chairman Kieran Keating pointed out “these have been with the clubs for a few weeks”.
The proposal was heavily defeated.
