Dripsey get green light for new club

CORK is to have a new GAA club in the Dripsey area subject to a number of conditions.

Secretary Frank Murphy told last night’s meeting of the County Board that having had discussions with the new club, delegates from the Inniscarra club and officers of the Mid Cork Board, his executives were recommending Dripsey’s application be accepted, subject to the following conditions:

1. The catchment area of the proposed new club to be the town lands comprising the Dripsey area within the Parish of Inniscarra, specifically Agharinagh, Dromgowna, Dyshart, Faha, Kilblaffer, Lismahane and Magoola.

The catchment area designation is to be without prejudice to the traditional rights of the Inniscarra club to the catchment area of the current entire Parish of Inniscarra being continued into the future.

2. Applications for transfer, where residential qualification under County by-law applies, must be submitted to the County Board offices not later than 3pm, Tuesday March 1, 2005.

For this initial year only and for the purposes of establishing the Dripsey club, any player who’s family residence is in the designated catchment area of the proposed Dripsey club will be granted a transfer on application.

Application for transfer where residential qualification under county by-law applies, by a player who’s family residence is not within the designated Dripsey catchment area shall be subject to the terms of the county transfer by-law.

Specifically in the case of applications for transfer from players who’s family residence is outside the designated Dripsey catchment area but within the Parish of Inniscarra, such applications may be granted only with the permission of the Inniscarra club.

Players who are 96 weeks inactive may be granted a transfer at any time during the year as per county by-law.

After the initial year of affiliation of the proposed Dripsey club all terms of county transfer by-law shall apply.

In relation to playing and training facilities the Dripsey club must provide the County Board with proof of availability of suitable and acceptable facilities within one month of the affiliation being accepted.

Permission for affiliation is only in respect of Junior and U-21 grades. The question of allowing Dripsey to enter under-age teams (minor downwards) was deferred.

Inniscarra delegate Bob Ryan said he was disappointed at the decision of the county executive as it had serious implications for his club.

“This is a huge decision for my club and a very sensitive issue for all of us involved,” said Mr. Ryan, “and I am proposing that any decision on the matter be deferred for a fortnight to allow me to report back to my club.”

Delaney’s delegate Mick Barry seconded Mr. Ryan’s proposal and as there was no dissenting voice, Chairman Jim Forbes deferred the matter to the next meeting of the County Board in a fortnight’s time.

Much of the meeting was given over to transfers. Former County minor hurler Brian Clifford (Lisgoold) had his application to join the Erins Own club turned down as he did not have a change of address.

Three members were appointed to the General Purposes Committee for the coming year - Denis O’Riordan (Valley Rovers), Martin Bowen (Erins Own) and Dan Warren (St. Mary’s).