Hickey, O’Connor win new posts on Munster Council

LAST night’s Munster GAA Convention in Killarney elected Clare’s Ger Hickey as Treasurer and Willie O’Connor as its new PRO.

Hickey, who has represented Clare on the council for the past 11 years, was an unsuccessful candidate three years ago. He was elected on a 33/20 vote, defeating former Cork chairman Brian Barrett, who previously stood for election as Secretary in 1978.

Willie O'Connor defeated former Tipperary PRO Liz Howard by 36 votes to 17. He is the current Kerry PRO and will continue in this role. He replaces Fr Seamus Gardiner, who had filled the position since 1978. Cork chairman Jim Forbes had also been nominated but did not stand.

Vice-chairman Jimmy O'Gorman expressed concern about the development of the games at juvenile level, highlighting the fall-off of players at a young age and the difficulty in getting people to run clubs. Parents too, could be more proactive in helping out. Very often, clubs were used as a baby-sitting service.

Chairman Sean Fogarty agreed that the shortage of club officers was often the result of people being reluctant to get involved because of a fear of not being up to the task.

Treasurer Dan Hoare remarked that the council did not always get the credit it deserved for "prudent" management of its affairs. As an example, he said that before Christmas they had allocated €1.5 million to clubs and counties to aid projects undertaken during the year.

Primary schools delegate Gerry McDonnell emphasised the importance of children using all of the available protective gear hand protection, shin-guards and helmets.

He complained that hurling was being "disgracefully treated" in some counties, both at school and inter-county level, because of an over-emphasis on football.

Officers: President - L. McInerney; Chairman - S. Fogarty; Vice-chairman - J. O'Gorman; Secretary - S. Moroney; Treasurer - G. Hickey; PRO - W. O'Connor.