Plastic Paddies are authentic Irishman Ð and they have a cert to prove it

Date Published: 10-Apr-2013

THE need for unity in the wake of a couple of turbulent years proved to be the dominant theme of last Thursday night’s Hurling Board convention when Joe Byrne of Kinvara was given the task of leading the county forward as Chairman for the coming year.

Byrne defeated Jimmy Cooney (Sarsfields) by 60 votes to 37, but it was an impassioned call to unity from the defeated candidate which proved to be the main talking point from the meeting at the Raheen Woods Hotel in Athenry.

Following claims that both camps had engaged in canvassing prior to the convention, Cooney made it clear that he would be offering Byrne his full support as he wished him well for the coming year.

“We fought a fair fight and there was a lot of work put in over the last few weeks,” said Cooney, the respected former inter-county hurler and referee. “Whoever was going to win tonight, Galway hurling was going to be a winner.

“It is well time for us to be united if we want to go forward, not just at the top table but on the floor. There can be no question from now on what camp you are in. Joe Byrne knows he will get my full support. You fight the fight that you have to, to win between the white lines. I support Joe Byrne 100% and I congratulate him.”

It was clearly an emotional night for Byrne, whose late father Toddie was a senior Galway GAA figure for decades. As he took his place at the top table for the first time, the Kinvara man said it was an honour for his club, his family, and himself.

“This is a serious honour,” said the 45-year old. “I am thrilled, flattered, and humbled. We need to look forward and work together. I want people to know that Galway hurling is getting its act together and moving forward. If you don’t have team spirit you win nothing and I’d like to thank all those who helped me in Kinvara and throughout the county.”

Byrne will now take over the hot-seat from acting Chairman Stephen Cahalan (Mullagh), who stepped into the breach after former Chairman Miko Ryan resigned in a cloud of controversy at the end of October. Ryan, after 13 years at the helm, had stepped down just one hour before he was due to be the subject of a Galway GAA investigation.

Cahalan, who withdrew from the race for the chair a week earlier, was re-elected Vice Chairman with 54 votes, overcoming the challenges of Noel Turley (Meelick-Eyrecourt) on 21 votes, Joe Connolly (Ballinderreen) who polled 13 votes, and Pat Moore (Turloughmore), who had nine.

“I really felt that I didn’t have time to go for the chair,” said Cahalan. “I have only one agenda, which is the youth of this county, and I am delighted that there is an emphasis on unity tonight. ‘Divided we fall, united we conquer’ and I am certain we will conquer this year. We are all one happy family.”

For further reports from the convention see pages 48 & 49 of this week’s Connacht Tribune

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