McDonagh chosen as Banner chairman

Michael McDonagh of the St Joseph’s Miltown club was elected as the new Clare County Board chairman at last night’s annual convention in Ennis.

This is McDonagh’s second tenure at the helm, after he last held the post from 2003 to 2007. The Shannon-based garda defeated rival Noel O’Driscoll of O’Callaghan’s Mills club by a vote of 152 to 41.

Delegates overwhelmingly supported the popular Miltown Malbay native in a ballot to replace Michael O’Neill, who has served as chairman since 2007.

Due to the five-year rule, O’Neill, from the Ballyea club, was forced to step down, as was PRO Syl O’Connor from Sixmilebridge. He will be replaced by Bodyke clubman Sean O’Halloran who was appointed unopposed. O’Halloran was a selector with Clare’s All-Ireland U21 hurling winning side in 2009 and as a player he won a senior county hurling medal in 1975 with Brian Boru’s.

The meeting opened with a minute’s silence, at the recommendation of outgoing chairman Michael O’Neill, to honour the late Kerry star and former Clare senior football manager, Páidí Ó Sé.

Following his election, the new chairman paid tribute to his predecessor O’Neill and then referred to the state of hurling in the county.

“Hurling is thriving in Clare,” he said, in reference to the Banner’s recent successes at underage level and he also looked forward to the upsurge of the fortunes of Clare football in the future, after the appointment of Mick O’Dwyer as senior county manager.

With regard to finances, Clare’s total expenditure for the year amounted to €1,489,517 while total income was €1,511,244.

Chartered accountant Anthony J Fitzpatrick issued, what he termed, “a financial health warning”, in his report to the convention. He said: “It is clear that careful financial management is critical, as the board are being confronted by increasing demands for increased expenditure from various sources, coupled with pressure from increasing costs for resources.”

Fitzpatrick added: “There is an urgent need to continue to tailor the demands for resources with those that are available.”

Fitzpatrick also said: “I note with some concern the costs of team’s expenses have increased substantially by 20%. This rate of increase is unsustainable.” In the treasurer’s extensive report, Bernard Keane advised that Clare’s GAA net worth as of October 31, is €56,766.

2013 Officers: Chairman: Michael McDonagh; Assistant Chairman: Joe Cooney; President: Henry Neylon; Secretary: Pat Fitzgerald; Treasurer: Bernard Keane; PRO: Sean O’Halloran; Assistant Secretary: Rosaleen Monaghan; Assistant Treasurer: Gerard Lynch; Development Officer: John Fawl; Coaching Officer: Eamon Fennessy;

Congress Delegates: Tom Downes, Gabriel Keating, Noel Walsh, Bernard Keane, Michael O’Neill, Pat Fitzgerald; Munster Convention: Noel O’Driscoll, Sean Chambers, Joe Kelly,

Bernard Keane, Michael O’Neill, Pat Fitzgerald.