Moroney’s multi-task mandate

Six months into his chairmanship of the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), Simon Moroney describes his role as “challenging” but he didn’t go into it blind.

The week before last, he was involved in a marathon committee meeting as the I’s and T’s for the 2013 senior inter-county season were dotted and crossed.

“I find it most enjoyable because I see it as being at the coalface of the game and organising fixtures,” said the Clare man. “As a former CCCC member, I knew that before I went into it. I knew the territory.”

One of his first decisions was to excuse himself from the committee as Seanie Johnston once again pursued his transfer from Cavan Gaels to St Kevin’s. It had been reported his overseeing of GAA funds in Kildare had influenced the decision to step aside but he clarified that.

“The reason I stepped down was rather that I chaired the Central Appeals Committee just previously and it would have been improper to put on a different hat dealing with the same case.”

More of Moroney’s involvement with Kildare anon but part of the CCCC’s success this summer largely went unnoticed with little or no accusations of The Sunday Game having a sway on their disciplinary actions. Undoubtedly, Irish Examiner columnist John Bannon’s amended motion last year, while taking some heat off referees, also curbed the CCCC’s powers to address issues in games.

However, that’s not taking much from the fact Moroney oversaw a relatively controversial-free first Championship campaign.

“Most of these people are so used to hearings and the disciplinary process by now that they really have insulated themselves from the GAA commentary. Of course, you’re going to have print, radio, TV and other media and that’s a good thing because it shows people have an interest.

“I wouldn’t say at any stage this year that the agenda was set for us by the media or that we acted in any fashion because of the media. People have that concern but I would allay that and say that we have a robust structure. Some of the incidents in the big games get covered but the CCCC operates in relation to other games when there is no headline at all.”

Overall, Moroney looks at the GAA’s discipline system as a just one. He’s aware of the criticism of it, but is convinced it works.

“The structures in discipline are very fair. Some may say they are slow and cumbersome but they have the player’s interests at heart. They can seek a hearing and they can also appeal a hearing. I think that’s very fair if they have an issue or a bone to chew with somebody. It’s also dealt with by different sets of people.

“If you look at the stats, in almost 90% [87%] of cases in 2011 the penalties were accepted. If you look at the match-ban system brought in this year, that has come in [and] it has also made the system fairer.

“There was a greater acceptance that time-based suspensions at a particular time of year could be catastrophic whereas the one-match ban isn’t the end of the world unless it’s an All-Ireland semi-final.

“The GAA went to a lot of pains to take these things on board with committee members with legal background and the independent DRA [Disputes Resolution Authority] was created as a means of making the system more even-handed.

“There are other examples of other codes where you have citing managers and immediate decisions but they’re professional sports and I’m not too sure if they’re comparable to our own needs in some aspects.”

As for whether the disciplinary process can be made more transparent, Moroney stated: “The only decision that matters is when the hearing has taken place. There is secrecy because the penalty, when proposed, is only proposed. It is good practice that the player in question is aware what the proposal is and has three days to make up their mind whether to seek a hearing or not.”

Moroney was last year appointed by Croke Park to oversee the first of two loans (€300,000) from central funds to Kildare to clear off debts. Another loan in the same region is shortly expected to be handed over to the county board.

“I was with Kildare for six months or thereabouts and I’d be hopeful and optimistic that the structure put in place, if it is complied with, won’t end in a situation with operational deficits,” said Moroney.

“Implementing it is not easy and hard decisions have to be made at local level. It’s purely aspiration at the moment and it would have been difficult for them with somebody coming from outside. But I’d like to think I had a good relationship with all the key officers in Kildare. My role was as an assistant and I would regard their situation as being very soluble if the right actions are taken.”