Clubs get together for one-day forum

CLOSE on 1,500 delegates representing GAA clubs throughout the country will assemble in Killarney tomorrow for a day-long forum.

The event will be headed by GAA President Sean Kelly, Director General Liam Mulvihill and a number of other high-ranking officials.

Organised by the Social Awards Workgroup under the chairmanship of Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes, the forum affords clubs the opportunity to grill senior officials on key grassroots issues, not least being the thorny question of club versus county.

“From the vibes we are getting, this is a very thorny issue among clubs and I’m expecting a lot of debate on it. It may not affect some clubs, but for those who are in the successful counties, it’s a major problem.

“It’s also an opportunity for clubs to get together and discuss matters of organisation, finance etc. At the end of the day I would hope that delegates will go away having learned something new that may be of benefit to their clubs.”

The forum will not be confined to questions and answers. There will be two guest speakers, former Cork senior hurling winning coach Donal O’Grady and Kevin Heffernan, the former Dublin senior football stalwart and All-Ireland winning coach.

“This kind of forum is not something you would hold every year, but I feel there is a need for it, say, every five years.”

Delegates are asked to assemble tomorrow morning at 9.30am in the Brehan Hotel, Killarney and the forum, which is sponsored by Gaelic Telecom, will be closed by the Sports Minister John O’Donoghue, at 6pm.

Meanwhile one of the country’s top hurling referees, Michael Haverty from Galway, is poised to win a county hurling championship medal - almost 20 years after winning his first.

Haverty, who refereed the inter-provincial final between Munster and Leinster in Boston at the weekend, is a member of the Loughrea squad who take on Portumna in the Galway hurling final at Pease Stadium on Sunday.

A county minor with Galway in 1978, Haverty was a key attacker when his native Killimordaly took their only Galway crown in 1986.

He is part of a Loughrea side bidding for their second ever Galway title and first since 1991.

They will be looking for revenge against Portumna, who won their only Galway senior title two years ago, beating Loughrea in the final.