This article is from page 95 of the 2008-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 95 JPG
TWO Clare clubs are determined to take the fight to retain the Interpro- vincial hurling and football competti- tions on the GAA calendar to Central Council level, even though full-time secretary Pat Fitzgerald claims that the series now “faces a doomsday Nero tte CO ee
The commitment of both the St Joseph’s Miltown and Crusheen clubs to the Interprovincials — formerly known as the Railway Cups — that date from 1927 will be brought to the floor of Thursday’s annual conven- tion in the Auburn Lodge.
Both have tabled motions in a bid to give another strand to the long-run- ning Clare campaign to safeguard the competition and ensure that it forms an integral part of the annual GAA calendar.
Former GAA presidential candidate Noel Walsh from Miltown has been a Interpro loyalist for many years — championing the competition at local, provincial and national level — while Martin Donnelly from Co- oraclare has pumped over €500,000 into sponsoring it over the last five years.
The St Joseph’s Miltown motion reads: “That incoming Uachtaran appoint a Task Force to recommend and advice to aid the promotion and advancement of the Interprovincial Hurling and Football Champion- ethene
The Crusheen motion reads: “That the Railway Cups Interprovincial Hurling/Football competitions be retained and in particular hurling, where there is no international com- petition for players to express them- selves.
The competition to be played over
one weekend with the All-Ireland hurling and footballers winners host- ing the competition with financial Support from sponsors and Croke Park. This competition could be played early in the year before the start of all National Leagues if pos- sible.”
However, county board secretary Pat Fitzgerald paints a bleak picture on the future of the competition. ‘For the past few years I have con-
sistently expressed my reservations and questioned the commitment of Croke Park to the Martin Donnelly Interprovincial Championships.
“Is the end nigh? Reflecting on the Interprovincials over the past few years, one cannot but arrive at the conclusion that there is apathy in many quarters to the continuation of the series.
‘They appear to be on a stay of ex- ecution. It’s 1s difficult to see Martin
Donnelly continue to bankroll the much-maligned competition when the level of cooperation isn’t what it should be.
‘To me it seems there is an indiffer- ent attitude within the GAA hierar- chy towards the interpros and as long as that remains the former Railway Cup faces a doomsday scenario”.