I see the Tyrone County Board in conjunction with Glentoran FC are hosting a prize giving ceremony at Healy Park, for children in this area. With the attitude to soccer from the higher echelons in the Fintona club, will the Fintona children be prevented from attending this event? The Fintona club should take a leaf out of their neighbour's book. In Dromore there was recently a successful match between the Dromore Club and their soccer counterparts in Tummery Athletic. It is surely not beyond the realms of possibility that both codes could be mutually beneficial to each other. Indeed the Tyrone ACL Division Three winners in 2008 counted a number of prominent soccer players among their ranks. JP Gallagher excelled for Strabane this year despite playing for Dungannon Swifts. Our neighbours in Beragh are forward thinking in that they have now an annual match, with their Rugby counterparts in Omagh Academicals. Perhaps such a match in Fintona would help to set aside some grievances and seek ways to work together.

ednasop (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 09/01/2009 21:12:34    177039

Paul Welsh here in Philadelphia...and I am embarassed to say, from this point forward, that I was ever afffiliated with this current setup. No longer a website for MY club. A website which was awarded recently for its content and vision. A couple individuals have decided they they are going to decide the fate of the GREAT PEARSES. Meanwhile, is the Tyrone County Board sitting by and letting this happen? I lifted a Minor Title as the Captain of MY club. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! Players who have brought this club much glory through the years....pushed to the side for hidden agendas and individuals' own views....who do not represent the town. We are the PEARSES....not a couple stuffed shirts sitting around the local bars....blasting away about themselves....and forgetting who led the way, the players. The whole thing is on the brink of blowing up.....fair play to Greg McMullan...for taking a stand alongside HIS fellow clubmen. You must open your eyes...times have changed....move with US. I want to see the Fintona Pearses back in top action. I wish I was there to make it happen. And Lord knows, I would. I am and will always be a FINTONA PEARSE...no matter where I reside!

the lads (Tyrone) - Posts: 1 - 10/01/2009 10:14:22    177208

there is no problem with soccer....its commitment and the fact a select bunch of boys choose soccer over gaelic over numerous occasions. it could have been any sport...it just so happens these are the two main clubs in fintona ednasop...its about time you got over this whole discrimination to soccer players matter....if they wanted to play for fintona pearses there is no problem....but they are asked to be committed...How could any team possible succeed with a bunch of non committed players.

anongael (Tyrone) - Posts: 3 - 10/01/2009 16:37:44    177350

Anongael. If you were at the AGM you will know that this issue was not about soccer. I am not a soccer fan. It is however about discrimination and as I pointed out at the time there is an equality issue here. Quite apart from the problems this has caused in the community. Do you really believe that the community is not divided over the issue? Why were certain players told that they were no longer welcome? Fintona Pearses has become a Cold House for those who want to play soccer at times. There has been a problem in the club for several years and it is not about soccer. The commitment would be there if the people at the helm locally could provide the leadership which is necessary for the club to progress. Why are there so few of our former senior players still involved in the club? A number of former Pearses players and officials are playing leading roles in other local GAA clubs. Why is our club membership reducing? Does the club have a disciplinary policy? Many of the issues around this could have been addressed by a robust policy with agreed structures and penalties. This issue can still be resolved but it will require all parties to get together and talk through the issue. It will not go away by ignoring it?

ednasop (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 10/01/2009 18:47:24    177417

I have sat by and read all of the comments and feel embarassed to be from Fintona. I must agree with Paul Welsh and as a former resident of the town myself and also a former player for both the swifts and the pearses this is a bitter pill to swallow. I still keep in close contact with players from both sides and from my judgement neither side has showered themselves in glory. Fintona used to have 2 great reserve sides in both sports and it seems they have been dealt the biggest blow. Recent events in Dromre and Beragh are a great spectacle but I feel that Fintona has gone way beyond reconciliation. By the way with the exception of 1 event to my recollection any attack on a committee member was made by those who do not wish to play gaelic and only want to see the demise of the pearses. The question I put towards any pearses player is that if any of the soccer players were turn up at the first training session would they be welcomed or antagonised and harrassed?

Guess_who (Tyrone) - Posts: 5 - 11/01/2009 13:24:12    177659

as a player for the local fintona swifts side i could not help but leave a comment on this matter. i notice there seems to be alot of people giving off about the commitment of a number of us players around the time we played moortown in 2007. this is coming from the people who were out drinkn in newtownsaville and eskra wile the squad was on a drink ban for the match. so were is the commitment there!! and on the matter of gaa gaels been harrassed on the street in fintona this is a ridiculas claim. some people just dont know when to let things rest and thats the way it should be. whats done is done it cannot be fixed so why continue it on. i would also like to comment on the forthcuming team which sum1 named there if ou had the 5 are 6 1st teamers back that play soccer then fintona would have no bother gaining promotion to division 2

swift09 (Tyrone) - Posts: 7 - 11/01/2009 13:26:43    177660

edenasop
Would you not take my advise from one of my previous posts and let this whole thing go. Realisticially you are never going to change this short term, and if you are the true gael you say you are, your current club set up needs you more than this website and the local press. You seem an intelligent guy, but remeber when you have a committee against you its like banging your head of a brick wall. Move on, move forward and make progress on this divide.
Former Players
Its ok saying if these 6 odd lads were back Fintona would be in division 2. Are those 6 prepared to give the same committment as the rest of the panel. If not why not. They may be better players but it doesnt give them the right to avoid the committment issue. I still maintain the club are right to do what they have done when they have the numbers which in this case they have. Remember, no players or indeed member is bigger than the club, and this unfortunately appears to be an attitude which is showing here from the soccer boys. My own club here in Donegal suffer the same, but we dont have a choice as we dont have the numbers, but I can tell you if we had the outcome would be the same as your club.
Im very sure all the players would be welcomed back if they were prepared to give the necessary committment. Get it together and enjoy 2009 on the field.

houserules (Donegal) - Posts: 165 - 11/01/2009 20:17:29    177855

Houserules. Sorry but I cannot let this go, they have crossed the Rubicon and I cannot cross it with them. When they asked me to resign I came to the conclusion that they no longer needed or wanted me. Their decision is wrong and whatever anyone else might think I believe it is potentially in conflict with equality laws which exist here. Despite the protestations of the Cathaoirleach, not one member of the committee of the club has so far approached me. I have been a member of the club committee on and off for over a quarter of a century I am afraid I cannot be associated with this. The club has refused even to talk about it. Had the issue been explored at meetings during the year the problems could have been resolved by now? Quite apart from club officials acting in contravention of long standing club rules. Their decision has caused a lot of acrimony in the community, and it could well cost the club a lot of money as they try to develop a second training pitch.

ednasop (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 11/01/2009 21:57:28    177929

See on bbcsport teletxt harte has hinted that there cuold be a return for to the panel for Aidan McCarron. How would Fintona take that??? Harte has said he is not in the panel at the moment cause he hasn seen much of him from last year. Not like Harte to speak about players in this way

Bob00 (Tyrone) - Posts: 37 - 13/01/2009 22:31:36    179745

Apart from aidan mc carron, who are the other footballers unable to play gaelic for their own club?

RedCol (Tyrone) - Posts: 9 - 14/01/2009 09:25:54    179915

I see this subject is taking up much space on the Fermanagh message board. We are glad that this debate is taking place and it is something the GAA will need to manage much better if they are not to totally alienate many young people in our communities. I hope that Enniskillen Gaels can make a better fist of managing Aidan Mc Carron than they did in Fintona. Their loss is our gain.

Fionntamhnach (Fermanagh) - Posts: 16 - 14/01/2009 13:10:30    180140

Fionntamhnach- is that not the irish word for fintona?
have you moved to enniskillen with mc carron?

RedCol (Tyrone) - Posts: 9 - 14/01/2009 13:35:40    180160

Edenasop

I would say its you decision which has caused all this, going public didnt help. After all the guys in charge are not being paid and doing what they think is right for the future of football in the parish. If this had gone to a committe vote and you lost, would you have carried on the same way. Ask any of the current players their views and you will get an honest opinion. The other lads will tell you what you want to hear. For the sake of your club, move on, work with what you have and progress with that. If people like you leave this alone, it will all be forgotten about after a short period and as I said before, if a club has the numbers, use the committed lads. if the soccer boys are interested they will eventually drift back.

houserules (Donegal) - Posts: 165 - 14/01/2009 16:41:56    180390

No I have not moved to Enniskillen with Mc Carron, I have been here for a few years now. Well done for noticing though. I did however play for the Pearses club a few years ago. I am disappointed that this debate is splitting the club and forcing talented players out. When I played for the Pearses many players played Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic Football. The games and seasons rarely clashed. I suppose it is the fact that there is a soccer club in Fintona now which is adding to the problems. Fintona need to bring all sides in this together and talk about the issue. It should not be that difficult to manage the needs of both clubs for the best interests of the entire community. I am also disappointed that the club has allowed Ednasop (if it is who I think it is?) to leave the club. He has the best interests of the GAA at heart unlike some of the contributors to this site.

Fionntamhnach (Fermanagh) - Posts: 16 - 14/01/2009 16:45:40    180396

houserules i cannot help but comment on wat u have said to ednasop there. the soccer lads will not be drifting back to much damage has been done now it will take a long time if ever to sort this out. i would also like to say that ednasop has done alot of great work for the club in the last few years especially helping them with there book which was done for the centeneray. i am dissapointed with the way the club have treated him. i would also like to say that fintona should be glad a yound lad like aidan mc carron is even been talked about by micky harte its shows just how good a player he is. some people shouldnt be as quick to judge a book by its cover.

swift09 (Tyrone) - Posts: 7 - 14/01/2009 17:35:33    180444

Houserules. Again I am afraid I cannot let this go. I was content to sit back all year as this issue continued to fester within the club. I spent many days watching our team struggle as the ostracised players stood behind me unable to contribute. Mid way through the season one of our new signings was told that he was no longer welcome! What has the GAA in Fintona come to? This only happened when they discovered he enjoyed an occasional game of soccer. He is now setting the Fermanagh and Western League alight with his skills. The problem is that we were banned from even discussing the issue during the year. The motion to AGM was an effort to provoke debate; it was the first opportunity we had to air the issue. They ignored the club constitution and ruled that my motion could not even be discussed. The answer to your question is yes. If a debate had taken place I would have been happy win or lose. That is the basis of any democratic organisation. Why did I go to the papers?What else could I have done? I have a right to be heard? Until the club addresses the issue it will not go away. Simply ignoring the issue is not a solution, as I am sure you would agree.

ednasop (Tyrone) - Posts: 50 - 14/01/2009 18:44:00    180506

Edenasop,
I think if your study the club constitution and the T.O., it is clearly stated when a player becomes a member of a club, the first allegiance is to commit to and play gaelic football. This is what your club seem to be trying to achieve, as it is obvious this was not happening, and by the letter of the law they are correct.

houserules (Donegal) - Posts: 165 - 20/01/2009 12:40:46    184789

Looks like the Tattyreagh/ Fintona game will be one to look forward to this year with at least 2 prominent soccer playing Fintona men heading to the Tatts. Cant help but reckoning that this anti soccer, intransigent attitude of some current Fintona Gaels is going to come back to haunt them.

Mick O Connell (None) - Posts: 1231 - 20/01/2009 14:49:54    184969

I hear its actually 4 Fintona soccer lads to the Tatts and 1 To DrumragH. Any one else heard this????

Bob00 (Tyrone) - Posts: 37 - 20/01/2009 18:58:50    185295

Mick any team playin tattyreagh will be interested because the chances are a player from their town is playing for them!!

pairsaighs (Tyrone) - Posts: 13 - 20/01/2009 18:59:26    185296