Kelly backs junior club championship

SEÁN KELLY, who takes over the presidency of the GAA in five months’ time, has come out in support of an All-Ireland club championship for junior teams.

He was speaking in Dublin yesterday after he had formally launched the AIB Club of the Year scheme, now in its third year, and with trebled funding amounting to over 100,000. And, at a general level, he warned of the dire consequences for the Association of neglecting club activity in favour of increased inter-county games.

Under the prize funding agreed for the next 12 months, each county winner will receive 2,000, with provincial winners receiving 5,000 and the overall winner netting an additional 10,000. It means that total prize money for the AIB Club of the Year will amount to 17,000.