RACKARD LEAGUE AGM 1ST MARCH 2010
The Rackard League held it's AGM, which was very well attended, in the Stanville Lodge last Monday. A number of motions were carried while some others were given a trial period of two years.

The continued growth of girls football was underlined by the restructuring of Roinn C into a district based system. Also passed on the night was the introduction of a penalty to boys football for a foul on a player in the small square. This does not apply for a technical foul ie picking the ball off the ground. The criteria for picking children for Croke Park Mini Sevens games has also been overhauled . The following now apply (a) no school may have more than one player (b)any school that has a player selected in a code may not have a player selected the following year (c) a skills competition will also be used to select players.

Among the motions that will be given a two year trial period were a continuation of the yellow card sin bin. In the Rackard League a sub can be brought on for the binned player(10 mins.). The restarting of a boys game after an injury was also renewed whereby the team in possession restarts the match with the ball( the same rule applies in girls football). It was noted that some referees are not aware of these rules and the committee will notify the referees of these changes. Also passed for a period of two years was that individual schools may enter teams in Rackard League competitions if no objection is made by the other schools in the parish.

In line with the National Strategic Plan the Rackard League endorses the recommendations for increased participation of pupils. However it was referred to the next committee meeting to see how best to achieve this hand in hand with running competitive competitions.

It was also agreed to introduce a cross country running event during December and it was recommended that Rackard League matches be played in the afternoon rather than in the evening whenever possible.

The following officers were elected on the night
President Tomás Keegan
Vice Presidents Joe Caulifield, Mick Dee, Breda Flood, Breda Jacob, Seamus O Brien, Fintan Whyte.
Cathaoirleach Dan O Flaherty
Leas Cathaoirleach Marjorie McDonald
Secretary Jim Dempsey
Asst. Sec. Nicky Flynn
Treasurer John Brennan
Registrar Tom Foran
PRO Seamus Kavanagh
Dev. Officer John Ormonde
Camogie Sec. Marie Butler
Girls Football Sec. Ann Marie Hearne
Rounders Eamonn Barrett
Athletics Dan O Flaherty & Padraig McMahon
Handball Colm O Tierney
Co. Board Rep Kevin Waters
Coiste na nÓg Rep Eoghan Ó Donnegáin
Wex. Dist. Sec Peadar Moran
Wex Dist. Rep Fintan Whyte
New Ross Dist. Sec Aine Kennedy
New Ross Dist Rep Niamh Lacey
Gorey Dist Sec Seán Whelan
Gorey Dist Rep Dorothy Kenny
Enniscorthy Dist Sec. John Joe Fitzgereld
Enniscorthy Dist Rep John Colloton
Appeals Comm. Eamonn Kinsella, Liam Turner, Johnny Murphy, Seán O Dubhlaing, Maggie Brennan.

2009 saw another successful year for the Rackard League with many schools capturing titles for the first time and the numbers playing in our competitions on the increase again. It was a very busy year with 18 county championships being played in hurling, football and camogie.

Many thanks to all worked hard to ensure that our competitions were successfully completed. Our rounders,handball and athletics competitions also prosper and the teachers throughout the county continue to foster our native games and cater for the needs of the children in the county.

In hurling it was a fantastic season for Murrintown and Piercestown who captured their first ever A title at the expense of Gorey who were going for a four in a row. Piercestown , inspired by Joe Coleman, were always in charge and were comfortable winners on a scoreline of 3-15 to 1-5. Glynn were the form team in the B championship all year but they were pushed all the way before eventually pulling away from a gallant Monageer team on a scoreline of 5-9 to 2-7. Rathgarogue-Cushinstown also were first time winners in the C competition with a last minute point from Jason Dunne edging out Oylegate-Glenbrien by 2-8 to 3-4 in a humdinger of a final. In the Allianz mini sevens Murrintown were again triumphant as they outscored Gorey 3-6 to 3-5 after extra time with keeper Philip McDermott proving the hero with a save from point blank range on the stroke of full time.

In football it was again Gorey's year and they saw off first time finalists Fethard . Taghmon continued their impressive rise through the divisions when they overcame Adamstown while Cushinstown again got the better of Oylgate to capture the Roinn C title. Gorey overcame Taghmon in the Allianz mini sevens final to round off a fantastic year in football for them.

Piercestown also claimed a historic first on the camogie field with their first ever Roinn A title . Amy Rochford's goal proved decisive in their 1-3 to 0-2 win over Rathnure. Glynn squeezed out Bannow in the B final with a Tara O'Brien point in injury time. While Buffers Alley returned to winning ways in the C final being too strong for first time finalists Fethard. Sophie Donnelly, Sorcha Foley and
Rachel O'Leary were among the many stars for the Alley on the day.Monageer retained the Allianz mini sevens camogie with a win over Glynn.

In girls football Glynn and Piercestown met in the Roinn A decider with Glynn taking their first Roinn A title.Roinn B section saw Horeswood defeating Mercy Wexford while in the Roinn C decider Tintern overcame Ramsgrange. All three finals were played under lights in Taghmon and proved very successful. Clongeen edged out Ballygarrett in the Allianz mini sevens final.

In the single school hurling competitions Ballyroebuck and Monaseed retained their titles. These competitions are based on the number of teachers in the school and both boys and girls play together.

The Rackard League committee would like to thank the County Board for making Wexford Park available for so many of our finals and also the clubs around the county for their continued support, the local media namely Alan Aherne, Ronan Fagan, Alan Cococran and Marian Doyle and Mary Foley for the extensive coverage that they give our games. The Rackard League would like to thank all who helped throughout the year from coaches, parents, referees, mentors, our sponsors Wexford Creamery and Allianz, teachers and most importantly the children who keep the games thriving in our schools. We look forward to the Mini sevens competitions which have just begun and the hurling and camogie competitions will be starting after Easter. Tweet

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