County Convention report
December 30, 2010
The major issues raised by clubs he said were the need for a Strategic Plan for the county, the need for an improved performance by the management committee, the need for improved debate and input from the clubs at county committee meetings, the need for a fund-raising body under the auspices of the GAA in the county and to improve relations with sponsors. Other issues that clubs had raised were that the subcommittee structure needed to be reviewed as did the whole fixtures programme as well as examining the choice of venues for championship matches and the issue of the secondary county grounds.
"Management committee relations were strained when I assumed office but I feel there has been some improvement and debate generally was positive," commented the chairman.
County committee meetings had been held at various club venues and the format had been changed which he felt was a positive move and it was his plan to encourage input at meetings from all concerned. The subcommittee structures had been reviewed and with some success but the review he said was ongoing.
Finance was always a major topic with clubs and his approach was that savings should be made where possible and all expenditure should be closely monitored as well as maximising on all sources of income.
He had met with county sponsors Investec and the main sponsors of the competitions and any issues that had been raised were addressed particularly the promotion of the new Investec jersey which had been an outstanding success.
The completion of the Strategic Development Plan was one of his chief priorities and a new committee was set up to formulate the plan although he acknowledged that some work had already been done.
It had been intended to launch the plan earlier in 2010 but that had been delayed although by the time the plan was officially launched quite recently the implementation process had already started. The whole area fixtures was of paramount importance to clubs and to address this two special club Forums had been organised and it is important he said to find solutions to the problems that had been raised.
He believed that in 2010 there was a better spread of championship games around the county and county final had been played in Inniskeen which had been a great success. With coaching and games development continuing to do excellent work 2010 had been a busy year but he posed the question: "Where do we go from now?"
The most important thing he said was the implementation of the Strategic Development Plan which would include the establishment of a fund-raising body that would look at raising further funds for extra developments at Cloghan and also work on the sourcing of funds for a complete revamp, including the installation of television standard floodlighting, at St. Tiarnach's Park, Clones.
The committee also must try to maximise income from our championship matches he said and maximise income from sponsorship. Other issues that would have to be addressed during 2011 were the appointment of a full-time county secretary, the roll-out of a Child Protection program county wide and the overhaul of the club registration system. He also called for greater media coverage for juvenile games and felt that this could be achieved through an upgraded Monaghan GAA website.
"The Strategic Development Plan is fundamental to progress and I did not get involved to stand still. To achieve our goals some decisions may have to be made that will not be popular, but those decisions will be made," he told delegates.
Elections
County chairman Paul Curran and county secretary Sean McKenna both survived challenges for their positions at county convention. Curran was returned with a comfortable majority of 41 over his challenger JP Graham but it was a much closer call for McKenna who had just nine votes to spare over Ailish McEntee whom he had ousted just a year previously.
It was a three-way fight for the position of assistant secretary with Michael Burns, Castleblayney, shading the result over JP Graham by a single vote on the second ballot, Anita Finnegan, Aughnamullen, having been eliminated after the first vote. While there were six nominees for the two positions on the Ulster Council it turned into a three way contest with out going delegate John Connolly returned when he topped the poll on the night with 80 votes and he was joined by Drumhowan's Gerry Duffy who finished with 76 votes, 18 ahead of Fergal O'Hanlon's Brendan McKenna.
There was a contest too for county PRO with out going PRO Siobhan McQuillan holding off the challenge of John Kieran, Killanny by 61 votes to 48.
Noel Mullaney was returned as Hurling Officer when he had 39 votes to spare all over Sean Guinan, Carrickmacross HC. Vice chairman Padraig Sherry, Treasurer, Marion Donnelly, Assistant Treasurer Brendan Farrell, Central Council delegate Liam Stirrat and Youth Officer Cathal Hand and Development Officer Gerry McDonald were all returned un-opposed.
JP Graham was elected as Oifigeach Cultura agus Gaeilge following the withdrawal of Pauline Rooney who did not seek re-election, Coaching
Officer Eamonn O'Hara was also returned following the withdrawal of John McArdle, O'Hara withdrawing from the contest for Treasurer earlier in the process.
Officers elected - Chairman, Paul Curran; Vice-chairman, Padraig Sherry; Secretary, Sean McKenna; Assistant Secretary, Michael Burns; Treasurer, Marion Donnelly; Assistant Secretary, Brendan Farrell; Central Council, Liam Stirrat; Ulster Council (2), John Connolly, Gerry Duffy; PRO, Siobhan McQuillan; Youth Officer, Cathal Hand; Oifigeach Cultura, John P Graham; Development Officer, Gerry McDonald; Coaching Officer, Eamonn O'Hara; Hurling Officer, Noel Mullanney.
Annual Awards
Also announced at Convention were the winners of the 2010 Annual Awards.
Senior Footballer:
Gavin Doogan (Magheracloone)
Intermediate Footballer:
Kieran McManus (Doohamlet)
Junior Footballer: Declan Larkin (Corduff).
Young Footballer:
Colin Walshe (Doohamlet)
Senior Hurler: Seamus Loftus (Inniskeen)
Young Hurler: Martin Murphy (Inniskeen)
Senior Club Official: Carl Laverty (Oram)
Juvenile Club Official: Dermot Maguire (Scotstown)
Handballer of the Year: Terry Kiernan (Carrickmacross)
Camogie: Shauna Finnegan (Clontibret)
Ladies Footballer: Lavina Connolly (Latton)
Youth Achievement Award Football: (Killanny)
Youth Achievement Award Hurling: (Castleblayney HC)
Special Merit Award: Liam McGrath (Castleblayney)
Club of the Year: Scotstown
Supporters Club Player of the Year: Dick Clerkin (Currin).
Most Read Stories