Whats your opinions on this story I saw on the independent website?
"Frustration leads to petition after teenage sons spend five years in the GAA wilderness as transfer saga rumbles on
A father's frustration with the GAA has led him to launch an internet petition seeking freedom for his sons to play for the club of their choice.
Aidan McKillion says his sons, Jarlath (16) and Aidan (18), are being kept out of Gaelic games by the intransigence of the Aghaloo O'Neill's club based near Aughnacloy, County Tyrone.
Aghaloo won't grant a transfer for the boys to play with their father's club of origin, Thomas Clarke's GFC of Dungannon (which is approximately 12 miles away), and the issue has been going on for five years.
Now the McKillions play soccer with Armagh City FC in the Mid-Ulster League, and are out of the GAA.
Aidan McKillion senior decided to make a last attempt to break the deadlock by launching an internet petition aimed at every club or GAA unit in the world for which he could find an email address.
He also called on GAA President Nickey Brennan to intervene, but Brennan has said he cannot interfere with the internal workings of a county.
Brennan recommended that McKillion senior should drop his petition immediately, saying it would not achieve the aim of having the boys play for the Dungannon club.
The club involved, Aghaloo, contend that they have offered the boys the chance to play Gaelic football, and that as they reside in the local parish, Aghaloo is their home club.
They also say they have dealt with the matter according to the rules of the GAA and taken it through the proper channels.
It's a bizarre and emotive situation, but the central fact remains: the McKillion boys want to play Gaelic football for Dungannon. They do not want to play for Aghaloo.
In fact, the major part of the Gaelic football they played has been in Dungannon, as a photo of Jarlath with Tyrone great Peter Canavan from an U-12 summer league proves.
So what's the point of driving them away from Gaelic games and into soccer?
Aghaloo officials have not made any further comment on the matter, but it must be said that, according to the GAA Official Guide and Tyrone bye-laws on transfers, Aghaloo is the McKillions home club, as the family reside within that parish.
An Aghaloo agreement to a transfer would bring the issue to an end and allow the boys back on the GAA playing fields.
It should be noted that between 2004 and 2008, Tyrone County Board acceded to 150 transfer requests between clubs, so movement by players in the county is not unusual.

pest_from_west (Antrim) - Posts: 27 - 23/02/2009 18:15:15    215902

Why should they let them go . The same is going on in meath with a underage player the clubs have the right to keep the players they brought through the ranks and small clubs would suffer in the long run if players wanted to keep been glory hunters and play for othe rand bigger clubs .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 23/02/2009 19:57:10    216012

Sure didnt some Aghaloo underage players move to Emyvale this year already?

jonnyconnolly (Tyrone) - Posts: 41 - 23/02/2009 22:11:36    216177

I saw this today and my first impression was that there are two sides to every story. And I thought about it some more and I realised - No the only side of this story you need to know is the one I read in the paper (and as above) today. I don't care if their

I am amazed only 70 people have read the thread and there are only two replies considering the other Tyrone 'issues' and the amount of rubbish spouted on here.

This is shocking stuff. What mindset have people got that they would deny two kids the chance to play Gaelic football. And remember these lads were 13 and 11 when this started. I don't care what the reasons are and maybe if you want to make a point block the lads for a season and leave it at that. But to keep it going for 6 years is twisted in the extreme.

You would hope intransigence like this would be a thing of the past. And the decision is obviously down to a committee (i.e. people!?) somewhere. To think a few people can decide to stop two young boys from playing the game they love for 6 years is insane. What sort of logic and bitterness is there to allow this situation to happen in the first place - never mind drag it on? People in Tyrone have had real tragedy over the years - and in recent years - and young people have had everything taken from them, including their lives. And a few people can sit around a 'committee' table and make decisions that have a profound effect on these boys' lives. It's shameful really. And HQ wash their hands of it too - disgraceful.

I actually think that if there is a clear case here for the European Court of Justice or Human Rights. So much for the rights of children! This is the real ugly and backward side of the GAA! And every season we see lads changing clubs - especially around Dublin - and the motivation is not a wish to play for their father's club!

Ps Dellboy your comments deserve no reply. To label 11 and 13 yr old lads as glory hunters is amazing. You (rightly) take great pride in your new arrival recently. Would you like to see her used as a pawn in a game or to make a point when she isn't even a teenager. I think you know the answer to that yourself.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 23/02/2009 22:27:41    216235

DUBLINMEATH The club that brings players through the system have the right to keep there players . There 16 and 18 i believe so not 11 and 13 . Do you not agree small clubs would suffer if players keep doing this and how do you know the players choice to me it is there dad wanting them play for who he played for .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 23/02/2009 22:39:30    216259

DBPC - this is going on SIX years - they were 13 and 11 when it started. They have been unable to play GAA for SIX years cos of this. To use young kids like this is sickening - end of story.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 23/02/2009 22:50:13    216273

Dubinmeath County: Dublin Posts: 387 216273 DBPC - this is going on SIX years - they were 13 and 11 when it started. They have been unable to play GAA for SIX years cos of this. To use young kids like this is sickening - end of story. You mean there father is at fault--- making them and pushing them towards his club . And you never answered the small club issues .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 23/02/2009 22:54:40    216278

Could I state for the record that dell-boy does not represent all Tyrone gaels. We all know this is wrong and its a disgrace that it should happen.

How can Nicky Brennan just do a pontius pilate on this and wash his hands? Surely he could apply a bit of pressure and got this cleared up before it became an issue for the papers and internet?

trileacman (Tyrone) - Posts: 759 - 23/02/2009 22:55:14    216279

trileacman
County: Tyrone
Posts: 308

216279 Could I state for the record that dell-boy does not represent all Tyrone gaels. We all know this is wrong and its a disgrace that it should happen.

How can Nicky Brennan just do a pontius pilate on this and wash his hands? Surely he could apply a bit of pressure and got this cleared up before it became an issue for the papers and internet?


I represent my self ok lets gets that clear . And am right small clubs would suffer if we let this go on this will destroy these clubs and further more i do not care what you think of me lets get that clear .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 23/02/2009 23:16:35    216305

So you lose two young lads to soccer then yeah? Thats clever. And what do you think is going on all over this country with transfers?

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 23/02/2009 23:31:26    216319

Dellboypolecat
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2573

216012
Why should they let them go . The same is going on in meath with a underage player the clubs have the right to keep the players they brought through the ranks and small clubs would suffer in the long run if players wanted to keep been glory hunters and play for othe rand bigger clubs .


As I thought, we have two Dellboys on the site. We have the one above, and we have the one who posts that if the Cork hurlers don't want to play for the manager, well let them go, they can walk away.

I would let these young lads walk away as well. I know it can be an emotive issue, but if a player we reared doesn't want to play for us, well why keep him? Except out of meaningless spite.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 23/02/2009 23:37:42    216326

bad publicity for Aghaloo this and although yes there is two sides to every story a club is better off without players that don't want to play four you sure what good are they to you? sign them transfers and be done with it then everyone's happy

Rahilly_Man (Tyrone) - Posts: 361 - 23/02/2009 23:42:49    216334

patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 2215

216326 Dellboypolecat
County: Tyrone
Posts: 2573

216012
Why should they let them go . The same is going on in meath with a underage player the clubs have the right to keep the players they brought through the ranks and small clubs would suffer in the long run if players wanted to keep been glory hunters and play for othe rand bigger clubs .


As I thought, we have two Dellboys on the site. We have the one above, and we have the one who posts that if the Cork hurlers don't want to play for the manager, well let them go, they can walk away.

I would let these young lads walk away as well. I know it can be an emotive issue, but if a player we reared doesn't want to play for us, well why keep him? Except out of meaningless spite.


The small clubs will suffer if this was the case every where that is my point and because the father wants them to play for his club ..

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 23/02/2009 23:44:05    216336

So thats wrong is it? I think you were asked recently who your new arrival would support and you gave an opinion. If GAA is tradition what is wrong with lads playing for their dad's club. Its not as if there is anything underhand going on. Can we say that about all transfers I wonder. Depriving two young lads of sport is disgusting. There are thousands of lads in Dublin playing for clubs that are not their parish - there are thousands of lads who get married and move to the commuter belt and still paly for their parish. Choice.

I must say again that I am amazed at the lack of posts on this. Our Tyrone brethren who have so much to say about everything have no opinion on this one. It doesn't even appear on the county message board. Mind boggling!

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 24/02/2009 00:17:09    216354

Are you not allowed to play with the club of your father or mother? I thought there was a rule which said you could?

icehonesty (Wexford) - Posts: 2573 - 24/02/2009 00:24:37    216361

I know of at least 2 players in our Parish who were forced by their father to play with his (HOME) Parish and those 2 unfortunate kids,born,reared,schooled in our Parish are forced to play against their school friends,and there still u12.Wehavedecieded to leave them off,as each year goes by ,it is becoming more difficult for those 2 lads.Maybe down the line if the parents don't see the injustice first,they'll transfer themselves. When there are matchs , training , social occasions and any Club event,they are left out as they watch their buddys head off. Its wrong!!

eastgael (Limerick) - Posts: 629 - 24/02/2009 09:18:31    216423

had the father been so keen for his sons to play for dungannon thomas clarkes he should have taken them there from the beginning of their footballing careers. dungannon have lots of people living near thier pitch and in their parish who play for eglish isnt that right rio bingo donaghmore gallbally kileeshil edendork and killyman. all these people are playing for the club that their parents are from and have done from the start of their playing gaelic games so there is no issue regarding transfers , so i assume it would work the other way round people who dont live in dungannon but are originally from there and want to play for them can as long as it is their first club. no transfer needed.

these lads would not be glory hunters as dungannon currently reside in tyrones lowest division.

as with all kids now a days i blame the parents had they wanted to play for the clarkes they should have been their from the start. a current tyrone player who has always played with the moy used to live in coalisland about 6 miles away but he always played his football with the moy so never needed a transfer

redhandman (Tyrone) - Posts: 431 - 24/02/2009 09:21:03    216426

if a player wants to move club then so be it you cant keep some one on a team if they dont want to be there

offthefence (Donegal) - Posts: 109 - 24/02/2009 09:37:03    216453

Now the McKillions play soccer with Armagh City FC in the Mid-Ulster League They made their choice.

Tom1916 (Armagh) - Posts: 2001 - 24/02/2009 09:38:51    216455

There choice would not be to play soccer Tom1916 but having read your 'offerings' here for a while now your narrow minded attitude doesn't surprise me. Its exactly the mindset that you have that is causing this problem. Another victory for the blinkered few that unfortunately still exist in the GAA.

The GAA President won't get involved in this. He obviously respects tradition and parish and province. So much so that Galway and Antrim will play in the Leinster Hurling Championship.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 24/02/2009 09:56:13    216493