*Ballyea’s James Murphy. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
Bye-law 7 in Clare GAA rules which deals with the issue of isolated players was the subject of a lively debate at the County GAA convention.
Motions from Clonbony and Tubber were before the meeting, the latter facilitating a proposal put forward from the county club’s committee which met on a number of occasions during the year on this subject.
Clonbony asked that the byelaw be amended to have a restriction added which would have players from within the same parish play with the hurling club in that parish.
Before that motion was proposed Clonbony’s Sean Malone asked the chairman, Kieran Keating for the outcome of a meeting his club had with members of the board executive. “We met with ye on this subject, we were awaiting feedback, the question is cad a tharla. Is there any commitment from this meeting to a solution to this problem”.
Keating clarified that this was “for motions”. Malone asked when he could clarity on the matter and the Chairman informed him, “call me later or tomorrow”.
Proposing their motion, Clonbony’s Declan Rynne said “Currently there are people paying football with St. Senan’s Kilkee who do not play hurling with Kilkee/Bealaha and it’s the same in Miltown parish where people play football with Miltown and don’t play hurling with Clonbony which is in the same parish. This is for newly registered players”, he said.
The proposal was seconded by Ruan’s Ger Lyons while Ennistymon chairman Shane Talty opposed the proposal.
Opposing the proposal Ballyea’s Fiona Whelan told the meeting “Ballyea is in the same parish as Clarecastle but we are not combined with Clarecastle. We are combined with Clondegad. Are Clonbony telling us now that we have to go and play football with Clarecastle,” she asked before suggesting that the motion from Tubber be dealt with first.
Proposing the motion from Tubber, Andrew Monahan said “every year we have this debate. Our function was to look at the isolated payer issue at a greater level. We went through all the clubs and came up with a schedule with an exception for Clondegad and Ballyea who have a long-standing arrangement for many years.
“This proposal creates certainty. We tried to make it as practical as possible. If this is not passed we will be here again next year with the same proposal. This gives a definition whereas the old byelaw didn’t. Nearest can’t be defined, nearest to what”.
Kilmaley’s Emmet Pyne opposed making a decision on this topic at convention and he asked “what mandate does the clubs committee have. Why weren’t we asked for our opinion. All clubs impacted need to be involved in this. Certain clubs are being treated differently to others. What was the criteria used”.
Ennistymon hurling’s Thomas Hogan said “this needs to be tidied up as it doesn’t cover everything”.
Clonbony’s Declan Rynne said they would withdraw their motion if Kilmihil and Cooraclare were added to Clonbony’s shared football club list.
“This is for hurling only”, said chairman Keating but Kilmaley’s Emmet Pyne replied “we can’t pass a motion and edit it afterwards”.
Public Relations officer Anne Hayes said, “clubs should have been asked. We should defer this and come back with a proposal covering football and hurling”. She asked “have we parish rule in this county” and the Chairman confirmed this was the case, “that’s your answer”.
Clondegad’s Seamus O’Reilly said “the Tubber motion is an honest effort to give some clarity. We have no intention of ending a 60 year relationship with Ballyea”.
Chairman Kieran Keating said he was concerned that “if this is passed it will create a more confused situation with football. I can’t see how it will be manageable.
“Football and hurling are two different situations This gives clarity to hurling and it will give Clonbony and Kilkee/Bealaha some sort of certainty. We can deal with football next year”, the proposer of the motion, Andrew Monahan said.
The motion was carried on a vote of 55 to 25.
The byelaw will now read, A player of a separately affiliated hurling club may play football with a separately affiliated football club and vice versa within the county provided that in relation to hurling both clubs are within the same parish with an exception being granted which recognises the long standing agreement between Ballyea and Clondegad.
The motion designated where hurling clubs Ballyea, Kilkee/Bealaha, Kilmaley, Clonbony, Inagh/Kilnamona, Ennistymon hurling, Tubber and Corofin can get assistance from.
