Clare GAA vote to retain U17 as minor grade

Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford also chose to retain the odd-numbered age grades. Pic: Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

Clare voted to retain U17 as their minor grade at their annual convention in Ennis’ Woodstock Hotel on Tuesday night.

A joint proposal by three clubs Kilmaley, Newmarket-on-Fergus and St Joseph’s Miltown-Malbay to bring back U18 was soundly defeated after a series of speakers aired their opposition to it.

It means the majority of counties in Munster will retain U17 as their minor grade in 2024. Cork and Limerick voted to revert to U18, Cork decoupling from adult competitions at 18, while Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford chose to retain the odd numbered age grades.

St Joseph's were successful, however, with their motion to amend the advanced mark rule to apply only inside the 20 metre line - currently it is possible within the 45m. It will be on the Clár of Annual Congress in 2025.

Clare’s team expenditure was €1.373 million in 2023, up €276,000 from last year. Team administration costs were €261,243, a jump of close to €100,000 from the 12 months previous.

Player expenses were €583,085, up €56,000 in 12 months. 

Catering and overnights, medical and physio and sportsgear and equipment all rose significantly.

The county’s total income was recorded at €2.969m, an increase from €2.7m in 2022. They reported a surplus of €270,186, which had been €614,056 a year earlier.

Club Clare, the fundraising arm for hurling and camogie, supplemented the codes by €181,000. Considering all the monies spent on teams to be €1.6m, county secretary Deirdre Murphy reported: “This is by some distance the highest amount ever spent on Clare and a reflection on the sustained involvement of many of our teams in the latter stages of championships.” 

Limerick’s inter-county spending in 2023 increased by over €65,000 to €2.363m. 

After being the biggest spenders last year, they have fallen behind Galway whose expenses came to €2.449m. Limerick returned a profit of €498,109, almost €100,000 more than they achieved last year.

In his annual report, secretary Mike O’Riordan addressed TUS Gaelic Grounds and insisted “redevelopment of our headquarters should happen sooner rather than later.” 

Meanwhile, Wexford chairman Micheál Martin has hit out at the “toxic nature of abuse” that was aimed at officers, former manager Darragh Egan and players following the senior hurlers’ shock Leinster SHC defeat to Westmeath earlier this year.

Using a Powerpoint presentation, Martin called out some of those who took to social media to condemn the board, former manager Darragh Egan and players following the game last May.

Wexford beat Kilkenny to retain the Leinster SHC status but it also marked their last game of the season and Egan’s final match in charge.

Martin remarked: “This summer saw a whole new level of a toxic nature of abuse against players, the former senior hurling manager, officers and the county board which can only be described as shameful.

“While regrettably we almost expect it on social media, a new harsher element appeared in 2023 propped up with phrases to justify the commentary such as ‘I am a passionate Wexford hurling man’ or ‘I am a diehard Wexford supporter’ or ‘I am only working for the good of the game.

"When young players tell you that they are not enjoying the inter-county scene and the atmosphere in the county, there is a problem.”