Cork board heavily backs GPA deal

CORK COUNTY BOARD decided at last night’s reconvened meeting to back the interim arrangement agreed between the GAA and the GPA. On a show of hands 92 delegates voted in favour while 12 were against.

Béara delegate Mick Reynolds proposed Cork support the agreement and he was seconded by Dripsey delegate Tomás Ryan, who said the agreement was a good decision.

“We need to bring the GPA in from the cold”, said Mr Ryan. “The current president of the GAA is a Corkman and he would not be supporting anything that would do damage to the association.”

Blackrock delegate Tom O’Sullivan said his club were opposed to the agreement.

Glanmire delegate Denis Kelleher concurred with Mr O’Sullivan, adding the interim agreement was a costly one.

Cobh delegate Tom Hayes said his club was also opposed to the agreement on the grounds of the kind of money involved.

St. Finbarr’s hurling delegate Denis Harrington said his club was disappointed at the lack of information coming out from Croke Park to the clubs.

County Secretary Frank Murphy said he understood the clubs’ frustrations at the lack of information but said that will come in due course.

“In terms of recognition of the GPA, I feel it’s appropriate that it be regularised at this point”, said Mr Murphy.

“The one serious advantage from the association’s viewpoint would be in the commercial field. At the moment you have division. The association should be conscious that where we have major sponsors of our games it shouldn’t have to be looking over its shoulder at what might and might not be at any given time.

“We, as a county, should support the interim agreement and while accepting what Denis Harrington said in terms of the lack of information, that will come. For now we should support the agreement.”

The second item on the agenda concerned the new format for the 2010 county championships. There were four motions before the meeting, from Blarney, Carrigtwohill and Muskerry and one from the Competitions Control Committee of the County Board.

Delegates from the three clubs informed the meeting they were withdrawing their motions in favour of the CCC. While agreeing with the CCC proposal, a number of delegates, particularly those from the dual clubs, wanted an earlier start to the football championship.

John Barry, the St. Catherine’s delegate, said because of emigration his club will be heavily dependent on players who will be doing the leaving certificate in June 2010 and asked that consideration be given to his club when the championship dates are announced.

County Secretary Frank Murphy accepted clubs will have problems and added the CCC would make every effort to facilitate them once the draws are known.

Both St. Michael’s and Canovee clubs were opposed to the new format, but, on a show of hands, it was carried 96 votes to 8.

The meeting was told that Cork junior football coach Mossie Barrett had stepped down from the position for the coming year. Frank Murphy said Mr Barrett had guided Cork to four All-Ireland titles which must constitute something of a record.

The position will be filled in due course.