Sports
GAA Convention delegates raise concerns over poaching of players
ONE of the recurring issues within the GAA – the parish rule and the mechanics of how it is policed – was the subject of a constructive discussion at the County Convention at the Lough Rea Hotel & Spa on Monday evening.
The topic has been a contentious one within GAA circles since its foundation, with counties finally seeking to implement some sort of regulation when introducing a rule between the 1950s and 1970s binding players to their parish club.
However, despite such moves, controversies arising out of the rule have continued to dog the GAA with some of the most high profile in recent years being the case of the O’Sullivan brothers in Kerry and the dispute between neighbouring Meath clubs, Duleek-Bellewstown and Curraha.
In any event, Ballinderreen waded in on this contentious issue at the County Convention when laying down a motion seeking amendments to the bye-laws binding players to the ‘first club’ they field for, be it in Go Games or the U-12 grade.
The motion was delivered by Michael Kelly, who stressed this was an issue that affected a lot of clubs in the county, particularly when it came to strong teams poaching players just on the border between two clubs. “Those players should not be allowed to play with another club,” he stated.
He asked delegates to back the motion which was seconded by Gort delegate Dermot Flaherty and supported by Tuam delegate Richie Williams who expressed his concern over “players wandering from one club to the other”.
However, Dominic Gallagher of Kinvara – the neighbouring club of Ballinderreen – called for a definition of a club’s catchment area to which Michael Kelly replied it was the diocesan parish boundary as set out by the Catholic Church.
Michael Burke of Kinvara said if that is the case then Ballinderreen and Kinvara would all be the one parish come January 1st (the one parish priest will serve both communities) – to which County Committee Chairman Noel Treacy remarked: “That would be some team!”
Gallagher subsequently re-entered the debate to highlight the parish rule, as it stands, “is not quite crystal clear”. He stressed this was not a battle between Kinvara and Ballinderreen but acknowledged the subject was akin to “opening up a massive can of worms”.
Killimor delegate John Larkin pondered though was the motion not looking to enforce a rule already there. “The rule has always been there,” he reiterated.
Chairman Treacy agreed, outlining that it was up to the clubs to implement the rule themselves and noted if clubs were losing players to neighbouring clubs then it was up to them to object. “If not, they are gone. You tell us,” he said.
He stressed that without some “divine inspiration”, it would be impossible for the County Committee to police every player – underage and adult – to determine if they were with their appropriate club.
St. James’ delegate Alfie Howley highlighted the difficulties city clubs were already having without the structure of the parish boundary, indicating, by and large, it was a free-for-all when it came to children choosing a club.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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