Outgoing County Board Chairman fends off the strong challenge of Culhane

PAT Kearney retained his position as Chairman of the County Board, staving off the challenge of Mick Culhane at the Galway GAA convention on Monday night to ensure he will complete a fourth year in office in 2020.

Despite weeks of canvassing and an impressive manifesto, Culhane, who formed part of new Galway senior football manager Padraic Joyce’s U-20 backrrom team this year, fell short with the final votes reading 146 to 110 in favour of Kilbeacanty clubman Kearney.

Had it been this time last year, after delegates ripped into County Board officials, most particularly in relation to the county’s finances, perhaps the result might have been different and delegates would have been more in favour of opting for change.

It wasn’t to be for Culhane though and the improved state of the county’s finances, a huge County Board effort throughout the year which was presented by Treasurer Mike Burke, no doubt played a significant part in the support received by Kearney.

The breakdown of the voters saw 234 club delegates cast their votes, along with 22 officers, with the officers believed to have voted in favour of Kearney almost unanimously.

“I’m humbled and I’m honoured to be returned again,” Kearney began in his brief acceptance speech. “I appreciate the trust that you [delegates and officers] have put in me.

“I thank Mick Culhane for a good campaign. It can be a difficult campaign. He brought the contest to a new level, a level we’ve not seen before.

“Mick won’t be lost to Galway GAA and he never was so we’re definitely open for Mick to give us a hand in the fundraising and the social media and all that. We’ll definitely be talking to Mick and thank you all very much.”

Culhane for his part, spoke too in the aftermath of the result. Bitterly disappointed no doubt, he congratulated Kearney on retaining his position as Chairman, before thanking those who voted for him and wishing all Galway teams well for the 2020 season.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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