*Jason Ryan. Photograph: Joe Buckley

KILRUSHโ€™s Jason Ryan has said the season just gone in the Clare District Soccer League โ€œis one of the most exciting I can rememberโ€.

Jason stepped down as Chairman of the CDSL on Monday night, ending a four year term. He will remain involved on the CDSL Executive as a committee member.

Addressing Mondayโ€™s AGM, he paid tribute to Paul Fitzgerald for leading the ongoing promotion of the ladies league in the county. He praised clubs involved and expressed hope that more teams will be involved next season.

There is better relations between the CDSL and the Clare Schoolboys/Schoolgirls Soccer League, he felt. โ€œThe CDSL and the CSSL have been talking the last couple of seasons, itโ€™s been a slow start but weโ€™re continuing to work together for the good of Clare soccer and for everyone, weโ€™re better together than apart and I know Donal (Magee) will keep it goingโ€.

Off the pitch improvements at Frank Healy Park included the installation of LED lights and solar panels โ€œin recent weeksโ€ while he outlined further work on pitch maintenance is โ€œto be done in the coming weeksโ€. The development of the county grounds has been aided by securing a capital grant to the value of โ‚ฌ410,000, he noted. PV Solar installed the solar panels, he confirmed. Groundsman Christy Ryan of Newmarket-on-Fergus was thanked for his efforts, โ€œweโ€™ve a lot of work done but there is more work to be doneโ€.

Clubs were thanked by the outgoing Chairman for their effort and for fulfilling games. Jason acknowledged the contribution of Fixtures Secretary Dean Russell prior to his exit at the end of the season.

He commented, โ€œThe Premier Division was the most exciting it has ever been, up to the last two weeks we had four teams in the title race, it went down to the final day with Avenue pipping the Bridgeโ€. All divisions were โ€œclosely contested,โ€ he noted.

Referees continue to play a vital role in Clare soccer, the Kilrush Rangers clubman maintained. โ€œWe still need more referees, courses are going on all the time and I would encourage anyone to take up the whistle because without them there would be no gamesโ€.

Streaming the Ennis Carpets Clare Cup final was โ€œa great success,โ€ he believed in what was โ€œa unique pairingโ€ between Newmarket Celtic and Tulla Utd. โ€œDespite the rain we had an exciting match, at one stage 700 people were viewing the game live, weโ€™ve over 4,000 views on YouTube, it was well received, it was great to get it out there and promote the league, weโ€™ve got a lot of good feedbackโ€.

Ryan praised the local media in Clare for their efforts in promoting the game. โ€œWeโ€™ve had great coverage in the press, it is getting better and better. Thanks to The Clare Champion, The Clare Echo and Clare FM. Iโ€™d like to give a special thanks to the two Dereks for the Cup final commentary, they did a great job on the day. The Clare Echo is always there, Iโ€™d like to thank Paudie who is here, he is always looking for news off us, thanks for all you do in promoting Clare soccer. Thanks to Derek Dormer who did a lot of work in The Clare Champion, it is greatly appreciated. It is great to get out there in the media because there was a time when we were silentโ€.

Official sponsors of the CDSL Natasha Barton and John McTiernan were praised along with Joe Buckley of The Clare Echo โ€œfor providing photos to the league and always helping us out when neededโ€. He added, โ€œthere was a podcast going on throughout the year, Intensive Clare and Clare soccer got great publicity on it, I think every team in the league got a mention on it at some stage so thanks to the crew thereโ€.

Dedication of Mickey Guilfoyle and Noel Coughlan to assist in the smooth running of games at Frank Healy Park was recognised by the outgoing Chairman. โ€œThey are two lads you can rely on all the time to be there to open or lock up, they are ever-presentโ€.

Efforts of players and managements with county teams at junior and youths level were prasied for their commitment during the season.

Advice was always forthcoming from Munster FA secretary, Barry Cotter during Ryanโ€™s four-year term, he outlined. โ€œIโ€™ve lent on his shoulder on more than one occasion, for any sticky situation it was him I went toโ€.

Officers in the CDSL over the four years were commended for their dedication by Jason. โ€œThey put Clare soccer first and before their clubs, when you come up here you put your club aside and it is for the good of Clare soccer, everyone here has tried their best and put their best foot forward. It takes a brave man to come up here and do it, everyone here weโ€™re not in it for anything personal but for promotion of the game and make Clare soccer betterโ€.

Denis Collins who vacated the CDSL Committee and was absent from Mondayโ€™s AGM was thanked by Ryan. โ€œWhen I first became Chairman, Denis Collins came in with me, I went to school with him and helped me a lotโ€.

Flan Hehir stepping in as secretary was also applauded by the outgoing Chairman. โ€œIโ€™m not sorry I asked Flan to become secretary, we needed a secretary and Flan stepped up, Ronnie was asking who we could go to, two names came up, had heard of Flan and he didnโ€™t hesitate but he had to ask the missus first but she was glad to get rid of himโ€. Frank Gormley, Ronnie Pyne and Kenneth Moloney were also praised for their involvement during the year.

New blood is always needed in Clare soccer, he said. โ€œNomination forms went out and not too many new nominations came back in, the door is always open for anyone to come in, if they feel leaving AGM in next few weeks that they have something to offer they are more to welcome because we do need new people, new blood and new ideasโ€.

Support from his wife Ann and daughter Ella was vital to allowing him serve as CDSL Chairman for four years and the same backing was evident from his work colleagues in Kilrush Fire Station.. โ€œIt was an honour being Chairman, the Clare league is improving every year and it will keep improving please God and it will be in safe hands with Donal, we might end up moving to Shannon for soccer meetings but he is a good soccer man who is more than willing to listen to peopleโ€.

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