Fennell transfer request refused

Dublin Senior footballer Eamon Fennell's request to transfer from O'Toole's to St Vincent's GAA club was last night refused at a meeting of Dublin County Board.

The vote was tied at 33-33 after County Committee delegates had their say, with chairman Gerry Harrington using his casting vote to deny Fennell a transfer to the 2008 All-Ireland Senior club football champions.

Had the transfer request been successful, it would have had the potential to open a raft of transfers being clubs.

Special meetings were held at the weekend to allow players who requested transfers give their personal case in front of Dublin County Board officials.

Dublin GAA secretary John Costello issued a statement reaffirming a county's right to deny or allow transfers under its bye-laws.

"The Dublin County Committee last evening considered an application from Eamon Fennell to transfer from O'Tooles to St Vincent's GAA Club. A player who wishes to leave one club to join another must apply to the County Committee for a transfer," the statement read.

"A County Committee has the right, acting within its bye-law, to grant or not to grant an application for transfer. The committee refused to grant the transfer application."

The Dublin transfer byelaw states: "As the GAA is community centred, based on the allegiance of its members to their local clubs, the object of which is to promote the Association’s aims at local level, the transfer rules in the official guide and this bye-law reflect that ethos. A player is considered to always owe allegiance and loyalty to the club he first legally participated with in club competition.

"The County Committee, when adjudicating on a transfer application, shall give serious consideration to the response of his current club, and:

(a) be cognisant of the role played by his current club in nurturing and developing the player;

(b) consider the potential impact of the transfer of the player on his current club; and

(c) consider the potential impact of the transfer of the player on the promotion of the Association’s aims in Dublin;

in reaching their determination."