This article is from page 63 of the 2011-11-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 63 JPG
CUTTING the number of senior clubs in hurling and football will be one of the radical topics on the table for discussion by the new county board committee charged with responsibility for coming up with a new blueprint for club structures.
The possibility was sounded out by O’Curry’s delegate, Michael Curtin, who is the brainchild behind the seven-member committee that has been put together by county board chairman, Michael O’Neill.
The move to cull the number of senior clubs – from 20 in hurling and from 16 in football – was first broached on the hurling front by outgoing senior hurling boss Ger O’Loughlin when he addressed the September meeting of the Clare County Board at the end of his twoyear term.
In the course of his address to delgates about the terms of reference of the new committee, Curtin said it would “start a process with the objective of getting down to the number of senior teams, both hurling an football right down along the line”.
And, in making his comments, Mr Curtin appealled to delegates to back the committee, by ensuring that their efforts to “think outside the box” that their final deliberations, findings are implemented instead of being reducing the whole exercise to a talking shop.
“We are looking at giving all of our players the opportunity of playing games over the summer period and it’s going to take a leap of faith to do this,” said Curtin of the committee, seven members of which were ratified at last Tuesday night’s county board meeting.
The six drawn exclusively from either football or hurling clubs are: Padraig Boland (Broadford), Rosaleen Monaghan (Tubber), Denis Tuohy (Whitegate), Nuala Shanahan (Doonbeg), Gerry O’Neill (Kilmihil) and Colm Browne (Kilrush Sham- rocks).
“What I would suggest is that all the clubs embrace this to the extent that it is going to be a very open forum whereby clubs would be allowed to make submissions and also meet the committee themselves,” added Mr Curtin.
“In other words, nobody’s hands are tied. You go along and decide what’s best, not necessarily for our clubs at the time, but what’s best for the promotion of our games and our competitions in the county.
“I would also say that when the final proposals are made that it would be binding. It’s vital. There’s no point in having a talking shop here. What- ever comes back has to be binding, at least for a year.
“It’s for the clubs. Going back with things I was involved years ago, the thing was it only succeeded when clubs talked about it, embraced it and came in with good ideas.
“It’s time to move on and incorporate what’s best for the county in both hurling and football. It’s a waste of time having another talking shop,” he added.
“It’s very open ended,” said chairman Michael O’Neill of the committee, “and every club will be written to in the coming weeks. There will be one more member added from a dual club,” he added.