GAA ‘needs to do more to promote games’

THE GAA needs to do much more to promote their games, according to the Munster Council PRO Fr Séamus Gardiner last night.

Finance will have to be set aside in the area of marketing if they are to compete with other sports, he said. “Look at Thomond Park the other night, the colour and the flags,” he said. “It’s a very important issue in the future.”

New chairman Seán Fogarty expressed concern about the over-activity of young players, saying the dual-player issue had overshadowed the “gross overuse” of the star U21 player. County team managers and county board officers were failing to protect these players by having them play in a multiplicity of competitions and expecting them to train with all the panels.

“The amount of groin injuries suffered by an increasing number of players is unacceptable and borders on irresponsible behaviour by all concerned. Medical opinion on the source of this type of injury is overwhelming. The solution is in all our hands.”

Promising improvements on a number of fronts, Mr Fogarty said they would have to launch a major referee recruiting and training initiative. “We just cannot survive with our present happy-go-lucky approach.”

Refraining from making any comment on the Croke Park issue, he said that after the matter is debated at congress, that should be the end of it for five years. “It is grossly unfair that the only organisation to make a serious effort to provide the magnificent facilities that the GAA now possesses should, year-in year-out, be subjected to such intense scrutiny. These facilities were provided by the sacrifices of players and officials alike with the loyal support of the people. It is unfair to have to endure the annual tirade of GAA bashing.”

Retiring secretary Donie Nealon was the subject of warm tributes, with Kerry chairman Seán Walsh describing him as brilliant an administrator as he had been a hurler. Cork secretary Frank Murphy praised him for sterling service over 27 years, while Clare delegate John Reidy highlighted his personal qualities of honesty, integrity and courtesy. Senator Rory Kiely from Limerick said that apart from his great service as player, referee, coach and administrator, he had made a major contribution to field development and coaching. Liam McInerney, the council president, acknowledged the support of his wife Kitty and family.

Former president Pat Fanning, also a former council chairman, said that after replacing “an institution” in the person of former secretary Sean McCarthy from Kerry, he had become an institution in his own right.

The only election was for the position of vice-chairman. Jimmy O’Gorman, Waterford, was elected with 31 votes, compared to 11 for Robert Frost from Clare and Gerry Bennis (Limerick) with 10.

Mr O’Gorman is the first officer from Waterford to be elected to the council in over 30 years.