Treaty chiefs exploring new Gaelic Grounds plan

LIMERICK GAA chiefs are disappointed at the lack of high profile games fixed for the Gaelic Grounds and admit to “exploring other avenues to get the stadium as much exposure as possible.’’

Board Secretary Mike O’Riordan, in his report to next week’s convention, said Shannonside officials has called on Croke Park bosses to consider playing more high profile matches in the city ground.

By way of example, he points out that they were passed over for the All-Ireland Under-21 hurling final between Tipperary and Galway (played in Thurles), expressing the Limerick was the ‘most natural’ venue for the game.

This decision, he suggests, ‘sends out the message that their facility will have to be utilised for events other than Gaelic games if they are to make the concern viable.

He said: “There will have to be a plan put in place for Páirc Na nGael, which I believe, should form part of our strategic plan ranging from maximising the full potential of the grounds to further development of the facility.

“Next season we will have all championship matches in the Munster Senior Football Championship at home.

“In the Munster Senior Hurling Championship Tipperary will play Clare in Páirc na nGael provided that they overcome Cork in the opening round.

“We are also exploring other avenues to get the stadium as much exposure as possible.’’

Apart from commenting in detail on the long-running saga surrounding the senior hurling team over the past year, O’Riordan also challenges public perceptions about poor club standards within the county.

O’Riordan said this view was ‘rubbished’ through the progress of teams like Blackrock and South Liberties in the club championships.

Blackrock not only became the first Limerick club to win the Munster junior club hurling title, but went on to win the All-Ireland championship after wins over Kilkenny champions Black and Whites and Naomh Columcille from Tyrone. South Liberties won the provincial intermediate hurling title last year and recorded a victory in London before going under to eventual champions St. Lactan’s, Kilkenny in the All-Ireland semi-final last year.

The report reveals that since the introduction of the Garda ‘vetting’ of under-age coaches and mentors (from under-18 down) over 900 people have applied – and that the number is representative of all cubs in the county. However, while ‘many’ of the applications have received clearance to work with their clubs, the importance of all volunteers making application is stressed and the aim is to extend the scheme to every club.

Among the motions submitted is one from the Milford club which calls on Congress ‘to instruct’ the Central Council to dismantle the fencing around the Hill 16 terrace in Croke Park. Murroe-Boher favour the establishment of a ‘County Hurling Committee’ and proposed the setting up of a steering committee ‘from the floor of convention’ that would negotiate the ‘composition and function’ of that committee with the County Board and submit a report by February 2011.

Milford have several other motions, one calling for a re-structuring of the parish rule relating to club membership and playing eligibility and another that county boards would have the right to grant transfers to players who have not played for their ‘current club’ for at least two years. Mungret want a change in the method of choosing the President of the association, proposing that it should be by a vote by affiliated club units.

Ahane would like to see an additional minor hurling championship being established at inter-county level. It would be played between July and September and involve teams which fail to reach the Munster and Leinster finals, along with quarter-final runners up in Connacht and Ulster.