Clubs urged to seek balance in development plans

THE Munster Council has stressed the importance of balanced development plans for GAA clubs if they wish to avoid having “fantastic facilities but limited playing resources”.

Deputy chief executive of the Munster Council Enda McGuane said last night that maintaining a balance in club development plans was a priority for the GAA’s governing body in the southern province.

He said: “There has to be a balance to plans that clubs make to develop – the facilities need to be developed but care also has to be paid to the playing side. A long-term plan for games development is also vital in order for the club to progress.”

McGuane added that clubs should be proactive in involving people in their areas who had different skills, such as business expertise.

“Planned development is the key, just as it is in any working environment. There are fantastic people out there involved with clubs, people with terrific business acumen, and they’re contributing hugely to the development of clubs, but we can’t stress the importance of planning ahead highly enough.

“Involving people with different skills can be a huge bonus for clubs, and in fairness, clubs have been doing that down the years, getting expertise within the areas involved.

“We’ve always been very fortunate within the GAA to have a good tradition of volunteering, and this is another aspect probably more important now than ever.”

McGuane added that the holistic approach to development would serve the club best on all fronts.

“Clubs will get there step by step rather than overnight, and if they pay attention to all aspects of the club’s development it’s better for everyone. Nobody wants a scenario where you have fantastic facilities but limited playing resources, or a club doing wonderful work on the field but unable to provide the facilities which its players deserve.”

Referring to comments made by the GAA’s Director of Finance in the Irish Examiner yesterday about being aware of clubs and counties’ financial problems before they became critical, McGuane pointed to the Munster Council’s practice of meeting with club representatives ahead of large-scale developments.

“We have a system in place whereby we meet with clubs when specific levels of borrowing or specific acquisitions are proposed. We go through those proposals with the clubs to ensure they have plans in place with specific reference to developing the on-field side of things, to make sure the playing side of things is adequately catered for.”

McGuane was speaking at the launch of the Munster GAA Awards, sponsored by Bord Gais Energy and which will be presented at a banquet on December 5 in Lawlor’s Hotel Dungarvan.

MUNSTER GAA AWARDS: Hurler of the year: Brendan Cummins (Tipperary); Footballer of the year: Pierce O’Neill (Cork); Media Award: Jim O’Sullivan (Irish Examiner); Manager of the year: Liam Sheedy (Tipperary); Club of the year: Cratloe (Clare); Ladies football: Norita Kelly (Cork); Camogie: Aoife Murray (Cork); Distinguished Service to GAA: Frank Murphy (Cork); U21 Hurling player of the championship: Darach Honan (Clare); U21 Footballer of the championship: Colm O’Neill (Cork); Hall of fame hurling: Seamus Durack (Clare); Hall of Fame football: John O’Keeffe (Kerry).