Spudnik for some reason my last comment was edited and the points I was making dont now read well. While I agree that the whole situation is crazy and should never have happened I still believe that the county board would have called off this game if the right phone calls were made. Every club gets an initial no from the county board on some issues but with effort these issues for the most part get resolved satisfactory.

Poormouth (Meath) - Posts: 204 - 23/04/2009 10:11:06    265958

From what I have heard the club requested the match to be put back until 7 o'clock that evening if Tuesday evening wasn't feasible. The best the county board could do was 4.30 giving the reason that Senchalstown had a match at 6 o'clock in Navan and there would be no Senchalstown officials there at that time to man the gate. This was bizzare considering if 4.30 was feasible then the junior match afterwards would have had a throw in at 6.00 the same time as the Senchalstown Navan match, therefore who would man the gate do parking etc for the junior game? The club were communicating with the county board all wknd on the matter and St.Pats had the backing of Simonstown throughout. Then on Saturday evening St.Pats officials and players had a meeting to decide on the matter knowing a no show would mean a loss of 2 points. The decision wasn't taken lightly, players had trained for months for this match. Out of respect for the family the decision was made not to show up. Incidently Simonstown were requested by the county board to line out on Sunday and have the ball thrown in. A request they admirably didn't adhere to. I think the rule was introduced so clubs would not be gaining an advantage by calling off matches when they were unable to field full strength teams. I think in this case it was quite obvious to all concerned that this wasn't the situation. Obvious to all except the CCC it seems.

Joebloggs94 (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 23/04/2009 12:51:46    266168

its a disgraceful decision by the county board . dose anyone know if there is anyone from pats on the county committee? im sure if it happened in the club of a member of the top table there would not be a problem getting the game refixed .

jimmyg (Meath) - Posts: 16 - 23/04/2009 23:22:26    266932

Lads, everyone here is jumping the gun. While I wholeheartedly agree that this is one of the silliest decisions going, I cant see it being up held. As far as I know there is still an appeal process to go through and with simonstowns help, the matter surely will be solved.

And why do these discussions always turn into....'Oh, well if it was the O'Mahonies it would be a different story'....NOT TRUE!! NOM have been pulled up on plenty over the years....prime example being the semi final a few years ago....or the time they tried to pull a fast one on duleek in the league and had to concede the points. So enough of this rubbish about clubs getting preference. especially when it has nothing to do with the topic.........

sheepshooter (Meath) - Posts: 626 - 24/04/2009 00:51:23    266984

From what I hear the Pats still have the full support of Simonstown and in particular Colm O Rourke on the issue. They have informed the county board they are not willing to accept the points. Not sure if it will make any difference but fair play to Simonstown for making a stand.

qprmeath (None) - Posts: 434 - 24/04/2009 08:19:57    267027

Yet again the County Board has failed the wider GAA community and us as supporters. I cannot believe the insensitivity shown by the board in this matter. Hang your heads in shame!!

Anseo (Meath) - Posts: 69 - 24/04/2009 10:48:14    267126

Agree with Anders Frisk. I can see what Inside Track is saying about the rules are the rules but common sense must prevail particularly when both teams were willing to play it the following night. I commend Simonstown on their stance on the matter. By playing it the following night it affected no other fixtures so I cannot see why it could not be changed. As regards Inside Track saying that the Pats made a poor error of judgement is nonsense. The facts of the matter are:

A number of players and committee members met after the removal to voice their opinions on whether they should play the match. A number of people and players (included) felt that they should play it with black armbands and that the players had trained all year for it and that Jimmy would have wanted them to play (which he would).

A number of others including a number of senior players felt that it shouldn't be played out of respect for Jimmy and what he had given to the club. It was a debated and reasoned decision and the club knew that they might face losing points and fines but felt, ultimately, there are bigger things in life than football and that Jimmy's death should be honoured with the respect it deserved.

I agree with the decision and anyone who knows the Pats will tell you that Jimmy kept the club going when it was on its knees not just through the sheer work he done on a day to day basis for the club but where necessary, financially too.

A lot of people may not have been playing football in the area if had not worked so hard over the years to keep the club alive and to get it to where it is today.

meathgaa (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 24/04/2009 11:49:58    267186

I registered today to add my dismay with the decision not to postpone this game. I hope that common sense prevails in the appeals process

wottonboy (Meath) - Posts: 21 - 24/04/2009 11:50:23    267187

From what i can gather from speaking to club members in St. Pats alot of credit must go to Simonstown Gaels for the support and respect they have shown and given to the club on this matter.
GAA Community in Meath shoud let any members of this so called committee know exactly where they stand on this matter.
Common sense has to prevail and there is no need for the stance the county board are taken.

With regards the NOM and senchelastown game i think it is been blown out of proprtion as usual with any brawls that occur in club games within the county. I wonder did any of these so called county board members ever attend a club game in Meath through the 70s and 80s. Club football in Meath has always been physical and maybe that is half reason our County team are not performing is we as a county are now seen as a soft touch.

viduka1 (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 24/04/2009 15:10:43    267390

to the curran family my deepest sympathy..to the county board,not good p.r. work,the man was around football in meath many a year and put all of those years in St. pats club....

northman... (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 24/04/2009 17:58:20    267569

I am a Pats player and former committee member living in the USA, i was sadden to hear of the loss of 1 of the biggest legend of my club, Jimmy was at every game of football i have every played for the club and 1 of my proudest moment playin with the club is when jimmy shock my hand after the championship win over senchiltown the year they won it. Jimmy gave so much to the club and in many peoples opinons made the club wat it is 2day. he will be sorely mist and my tought and prayers go out to Martin, Ivan and family. as for the county board they sud be ashamed of themselves, the way they disrespected the club but more importantly the family which has givin so much to their community, club and indeed their county, 1 thing is for sure if a death occour in a club which has higher conections with the county board the game would have bin off no questions asked, its when things like this happen it mkes me happy i moved to the states

meathman86 (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 24/04/2009 20:38:05    267663

Meathman86 Very well said. Jimmy Curran was no ordinary clubman. He as well known and respected within the Pats as well as throughout the county.

qprmeath (None) - Posts: 434 - 24/04/2009 21:08:19    267681

In this instance to quote 'rules are rules' is other nonsense. Everybody knows their are rules but fixtures are changed all the time their should be no great issue here as the championship will not be finished until October (maybe November) and considering that Simonstown were agreeable. Look at our underage with certain clubs getting games swithed all of the time. St Pats have obviously nobody in the fixtures committee!. The stubborn attitude of the county fixture personnel has also delayed the junior championship as both the matches could have been played under lights during the week. The county board should be supporting clubs like St Pats and playing of our games. I hope common sense prevails even at this late stage. The best of luck to both teams concerned in this issue.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 24/04/2009 21:47:34    267725

lads the bottom line on this is the club and simonstown were willing to play that evening or during the week so what was the big deal in postponing it?jimmy put in trojan work for the club over the years,his son ivan was one of our best players for years and is still involved.jimmys brother martin runs the club lotto and im pretty sure some of ivans children play too so it was only right it was postponed.without dragging this to another topic the fixtures in meath are a disgrace anyway with no regularity so we really shouldnt be suprised that this situation has arisen.

RIP Jimmy

stamullenman (Meath) - Posts: 392 - 25/04/2009 10:30:21    267848

again like another poster, ive never been on this before but had to register to add my sentiments that the county boards handling of this is insensitive and shameful. they are a joke.

meathabu (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 25/04/2009 13:08:15    267904

I know I am a bit late to this topic but I think it is very disheartening when a decision like this is made by the Meath County Board, the people who are supposed to be all about the people of Meath GAA especially this year in particular being the 125 year anniversary of the GAA, honouring all the people who have been a part of the GAA in the past 125 years, well Jimmy Curran was a member of the GAA all his life as you will see from the article posted on this very website on the 21st April 09. And that decision did not honour him, shame on you Meath County Board.
Myself and my family have followed St Pats football club all our lives, they are like our extended family, and im sure all followers of the sport will feel the same. The players of the St Pats senior club are one of the nicest bunch of lads you could ever have the pleasure of meeting, they are very passionate about playing for their club and they put alot of time and effort into their training, so this decision to stand down that day did not come lightly as they knew there was a chance they might lose the 2 points. They along with the community of Stamullen had the utmost respect for Jimmy and at the end of the day there is more in life and honouring a man like Jimmy Curran was the right thing to do.
I dont think this should end here, there needs to be a good hard look at who is making these decisions on the board. Its time for change and in the year thats in it with the 125 year anniversary and the recession there are alot of our young members emigrating, we went to be encouraging people to get involved in the GAA, but with people like these sitting there hight and mighty what chance have we got Gaelic is supposed to be all about fun and bringing a community together, if we want uptight and regimental we would follow soccor.

scuchymonkey (Meath) - Posts: 12 - 30/04/2009 13:14:47    272273

Now that St Pats are appealing the CCC's decision to award the points to Simonstown, could this result in the postponement of the second round games involving these 2 clubs until the appeal is ruled upon. I believe we have bye laws where a club does not have to play championship games out of the propsed sequence. Could Sen'town or D/B request a postponement until such decsion is finalised (not suggesting that either would). If so the CCC's initial decision could prove detremental to the fixture's schedule.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1205 - 30/04/2009 13:15:11    272274