Gaynor highlights Premier’s ‘age’ fears

FORMER Tipperary manager Len Gaynor has expressed concern about the restrictions placed on clubs in regard to age limitations at different levels.

The GAA has moved to outlaw the practice of young players moving up through the grades, and from January 1, no Under-16 will be permitted to play at Under-21 or adult levels.

“This rule was brought in to stop the burn-out of young players, but also to protect them, as they are just not physically developed to mix with adults,” said a GAA spokesperson.

But supporting a motion from his club, Kilruane McDonagh, at the Tipperary County Board convention, Gaynor said that clubs should be allowed deal with their own players and utilise them as they saw fit.

“If a player is up to playing senior hurling he should be allowed, no matter what age he is,’’ he added.

The unanimous view of the delegates was that the whole issue needed to be reviewed at national level.

During the course of the debate on the Secretary’s report, Central Council delegate Con Hogan highlighted the importance of the board’s commercial activities. Income almost matched that raised through gate receipts (€362,079), he said. A major source of commercial income was the Enfer sponsorship.

Mr Hogan added that over the past two years, supporters had purchased 10,000 replica Tipperary jerseys and the board received €3.50 in royalties for each sale; in total, sales of sporting goods last year brought in approximately €50,000 to the board.

Referee coordinator Willie Robinson informed delegates that Croke Park had designated 2006 as a year of referee recruitment and he hoped that Tipperary would be to the forefront in this regard. However this would demand a big effort from clubs which had been negligent in this area, he commented.

The report of Treasurer Michael “Spike” Nolan showed that the board suffered a loss of €91,476 on the year’s activities. Income totalled €4,117,592 and expenditure amounted to €4,209,068. Funding the activities of the various county teams came to €650,950, the biggest items being €194,091 for travel expenses (up €46,000 from 2004), €114,600 for catering and €130,924 for gear.

New chairman John Costigan was unopposed and the only election was for the position of Vice-Chairman, for which there were three candidates. Elected was Barry O’Brien from the Fr Sheehys club, who defeated Michael Bourke (Upperchurch-Drombane) and outgoing Development Officer James O’Donnell (Golden Kilfeacle) Secretary Michael O’Brien told delegates that he would be bowing out in 12 months, after seven years in the role.