gottabetrue did i say anything about them playing for dungannon. my point was that there are a number of players form dungannon who play for the likes of donaghmore killyman and edendork. i never mentionded about players who played for dungannon and moved to other clubs. i was just trying to explain to donegal insider the situation that dungannon are in with people from the town playing for surrounding clubs. so come down off your high horse mo chara!

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 26/02/2009 16:38:13    219219

gottabetrue
County: Tyrone
Posts: 144

219101 Did any of these players ever play for Dungannon?
Perhaps Donaghmore's retention of players and treatment of the club as a whole is more appealing to parents and young players?


Yes one of them played illegal for dungannon and strabane got the trophy rightly so .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 17:13:46    219260

nah dellboy me and gottabetrue are talking about something completely different. becuase eh daniel bleeks and christopher quinn didnt play against strabane in that match! see ur at it again.....you dont even know what your on about! people are laughing at you like!

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 26/02/2009 17:22:10    219278

Monday February 23 2009

AGHALOO O'Neill's GFC have issued the following statement on the issue: "Aghaloo GFC are committed to affording every person living within our parish, without exception, the opportunity to participate in Gaelic Games and activities.

"We have never denied anyone this right, on the contrary, we proactively encourage participation by providing Gaelic football in a safe and friendly environment where enjoyment, fair play, competitiveness, teamwork, discipline and health awareness are promoted as core values by our dedicated team of coaching volunteers.

"Aghaloo GFC have always adhered to and abided by the rules of the Association with regard to transfer applications and our position in relation to the applications submitted by Aidan and Jarlath McKillion has been consistently upheld and supported by the Tyrone GAA County Board."

They broke no rules end off .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 17:29:43    219289

Aidan was included in the Dungannon club's U-16 team which reached a final but a protest by the Strabane club resulted in the Clarkes being disqualified.

The McKillions felt they could not let anything like that happen again, and left the club, later taking up soccer.

McKillion senior added: "These two lads have suffered untold psychological anguish and despair due to this case, for almost a third of their young existences.

So there is the facts thomasclarke check in future and do research before you tell me to ..

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 17:32:00    219295

Aidan was included in the Dungannon club's U-16 team which reached a final but a protest by the Strabane club resulted in the Clarkes being disqualified.

The McKillions felt they could not let anything like that happen again, and left the club, later taking up soccer.

McKillion senior added: "These two lads have suffered untold psychological anguish and despair due to this case, for almost a third of their young existences.

So there is the facts thomasclarke check in future and do research before you tell me to ..


hahaha u make me laugh.....whats your point here..what are you trying to point out??

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 26/02/2009 17:39:45    219309

dell boy he clearly stated that it was the lads bleeks and quinn that did not play for dunannon, why are you trying to twist a mans words? give it up your only making a fool out of yourself!

passerby (Tyrone) - Posts: 724 - 26/02/2009 17:39:58    219311

Yes they did play all the way through that campaign (2007) and the other clubs turned a blind eye until the final when a county board official involved with the other team protested between the league final draw and the replay - and Clarke's were disqualified before the game was replayed. There was no intention to deceive here - merely to bring the issue to a head. The lads had already not played for 3 years. They have not played GAA since.

Incidentally, they were initially given the go ahead for the transfer by an offical but this was rowed back on. Those are the facts.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 26/02/2009 17:55:55    219332

I have to admit I dont know that much about this case but it very similar to a case within my own county. The way I see it is that if the 2 youngsters were that keen to play football they wouldn't care who they played with so they should just play away with their home club. I think if they were allowed to get a transfer it could open "a can of worms" and young players all over the place would be trying to get transfers to different clubs for all kinds of reasons just to play with stronger clubs, their best friends etc. At the end of the day this argument has rumbled on for a few years and I would consider it strange if young lads who have an interest in the game wouldnt play at all because they cant play for the team they want...

Thunderstruck (Meath) - Posts: 473 - 26/02/2009 19:16:43    219415

No the specific case at the start of the thread is different in the sense that the youngsters want to play for their fathers club, but in our county and Cavan they join the more successful clubs after wee small rural clubs train them up and give them good enough coaching for the bigger clubs to desire them. This is my point where there is a premiership type attitude towards club loyalty amongst youngsters and i feel it will become more prevailant.

bananapublican (Leitrim) - Posts: 878 - 26/02/2009 20:12:01    219458

ThomasClarke1 County: Tyrone Posts: 240 219309 Aidan was included in the Dungannon club's U-16 team which reached a final but a protest by the Strabane club resulted in the Clarkes being disqualified. The McKillions felt they could not let anything like that happen again, and left the club, later taking up soccer. McKillion senior added: "These two lads have suffered untold psychological anguish and despair due to this case, for almost a third of their young existences. So there is the facts thomasclarke check in future and do research before you tell me to .. hahaha u make me laugh.....whats your point here..what are you trying to point out?? The point am trying to make but you do not get it is the rules are there for a reason . Aghaloo broke no rules whatsoever but the players in quiestion and dungannon have clearly broken these rules . Dublinmeath i can assure you no offical give them the all clear from the county board so please back up with facts . It was later in the year the county board copped on with one of there officals other clubs did not notice this player playing ok .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 20:21:46    219468

ThomasClarke1 County: Tyrone Posts: 240 219309 Aidan was included in the Dungannon club's U-16 team which reached a final but a protest by the Strabane club resulted in the Clarkes being disqualified. The McKillions felt they could not let anything like that happen again, and left the club, later taking up soccer. McKillion senior added: "These two lads have suffered untold psychological anguish and despair due to this case, for almost a third of their young existences. So there is the facts thomasclarke check in future and do research before you tell me to .. hahaha u make me laugh.....whats your point here..what are you trying to point out?? Listen the point am making is aghaloo broke no rules now none at all . The only rules where broken was when they played for your club illegally now that is a broken rule . Dublinmeath answer to your quiestion no officall give them any go ahead because it has to be put in writing fact so please keep up with this and the only reason they where found out at that time yes it was a county board offical copped as other clubs had not during the year as it happened the same with my own club county board told us after the final which no other club knew or even us but we broke the rules end off .Passer by he denied that none of these boys played for dungannon illegally and i got facts that they did . So the point is aghaloo are correct as there going by the rules and they are allowed to play with aghaloo when they wish .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 26/02/2009 20:33:26    219476

If these McKillion lads want to move everyone will be looking to move to the biggest club to them!
Im sure no Beragh players have a right to play for Omagh or Errigal just because they go to schools there!
Just because they go to a school in Dungannon doesnt give them the right to play for Thomas Clarkes.

But at the same time Gaelic football is a sport played for fun and enjoyment! Maybe these 2 cubs werent happy at Aghaloo or maybe wanted to play for a bigger club! But at the end of the day, Aidan was a fantastic Gaelic Footballer and we (Tyrone) are loosing out in upcoming talent because the McKillions cant play GAA!

gooseontheloose (Tyrone) - Posts: 309 - 26/02/2009 21:05:55    219505

Dellboy you are a great man for quoting rules and you are never wrong about anything - infallible I think they call it - just you and the Pope apparently. I said an official from Aghaloo initially indicated the boys would be given a transfer but the committee subsequently refused to sanction it. I am talking 6 years ago here - when the boys were 11 and 13. And they have dug their heels in ever since. In 2007 the boys played for Clarke's in the league. Most clubs they played against knew the situation and did not object - until the final - and in fairness Strabane were entitled to object. The reason they played was in a bid to finally bring this farce to an end. Unfortunately this did not work either and the boys - tremendous players - have not played since. This is also not about glory hunting or leaving a small club for a bigger and more successful one. Its about two CHILDREN wanting to play for a club where they go to school, where their friends play, where their gran lives and yes, where their father player. No sinister motives, no money changing hands - just the wish of a couple of kids. Now as a Dub I should be secretly delighted that two possible future Tyrone stars have been taken out of the equation because of the intransigence of their own GAA people in the county. But I am not. I detest this unfairness - going on for 6 years - and the downright stupidity of not allowing two CHILDREN to play for the club they wish to play for. And some people should take a long hard look at themselves - and their motives. Yes rules are rules - but sometimes the law is an ass. And the law is one huge big ass in this one. ps Please do not reply.

Dubinmeath (Dublin) - Posts: 1123 - 26/02/2009 22:56:49    219638

Interesting issues at play here. I think Aidan McKillion's family's situation is reflective of many within the GAA throughout the country and not just in Dungannon, particularly so as we become a much more transient nation. As someone earlier said the GAA is about tradition, maybe more so than anything else. I can therefore appreciate that Aidan's sons may want to follow in their fathers footsteps and play for the Clarkes.

Likewise, its understandable that Aghaloo want to hold on to as many players as fall within their territory as possible and as Dellboy says "rules are rules".

But is that what the GAA is to be about? To my mind there has to be some form of emotional attachment for players to play with a club, as much as a physical attachment. And it is this emotional attachment that will makes the club stronger. Without it its only a bunch of players and very little soul. Therefore, whilst Aghaloo may be operating to the letter of the rules they are hardly operating to the spirit of them. Forcing young lads to play with them or no-one is just wrong and is not likely to breed any sense of loyalty in them towards their club, rather it only strengthens antipathy. I just wonder if the boot was on the other foot and one of Aghaloo's staunch players had moved, to say Dungannon, and had kids who wanted to play for them, would they refuse them - I sincerely doubt it and rightly so.

I say "Free the McKillion Two!" - the Clarkes need as many players as they can get their hands on.

On_the_ditch (Tyrone) - Posts: 98 - 26/02/2009 23:45:45    219687

Dellboypolecat Dublinmeath answer to your quiestion no officall give them any go ahead because it has to be put in writing fact so please keep up with this and the only reason they where found out at that time yes it was a county board offical copped as other clubs had not during the year as it happened the same with my own club county board told us after the final which no other club knew or even us but we broke the rules end off as a matter of fact dellboy an aghaloo offical did give the go ahead for the transfer to be giving but they later decided they werent going to give it.. other clubs had copped that they were illegal during the year but didnt do anything about it( probably because they knew the situation unlike some!). dellboy this has nothing to do with your club. why are you doing this like? why do you insist on adding your own wee bits onto the story when they are not true and you dont even know what your on about! why? Dublinmeath i can assure you no offical give them the all clear from the county board so please back up with facts . how can you assure him? you dont know the full story. its seems to me the only two on this thread who know what the story is are me and dubinmeath. all the lads want to do is play for dungannon. not for want of glory but because they go to school there, they work there, there granny and cousins live in dungannon and there dad played for dungannon. now as a child i remember wanting to be like my father, most children do at that age and all these lads want to do is follow in their fathers footsteps and play for thomas clarkes gfc! although they dont live in dungannon most of their daily activities go on in dungannon. and could people please stop posting things such as well if they were to be given a transfer every child in the county would be looking one.........to be honest they wouldn't. this has been going on too long!

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 27/02/2009 00:50:44    219719

Dellboypolecat 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 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 . Delboy you know nothing about football...This is a disgrace players should not be held down to one club If they do not want to play for them and they go to Dungannon schools. they should have the option of changing clubs. They are just like the Moy not allowing players to leave e.g Christopher Daly who finally got his transfer but it took 2 years. This has been going on for 6 which is redicilous. Why doesnt the Tyrone Board and Agherloo just accept the fact that they are the worst football team in tyrone with 2 quality players. They are playing with and against players way below their standard in agherloo LET THEM LEAVE

shane_mck (Tyrone) - Posts: 159 - 27/02/2009 09:47:25    219805

Dellboypolecat Dublinmeath i can assure you no offical give them the all clear from the county board so please back up with facts . It was later in the year the county board copped on with one of there officals other clubs did not notice this player playing ok . it wasnt a county board offical it was a member of the aghaloo club that give the go ahead for the transfer to go through and then refused the transfer. many clubs had known about the two lads playing illegally for the clarkes but turned a blind eye to the situation. you can assure dubinmeath alright becuase it wasnt a county board offical it was an aghaloo member. and that is what dubinmeath said but you twisted his words as you did mine. all these lads want to do is play for the clarkes. is that a crime? after all the GAA is about promoting our heritage and culture but instead aghaloo and turning people away from the game!

ThomasClarke1 (Tyrone) - Posts: 392 - 27/02/2009 09:48:11    219806

Are we sports people or are we lawyers? Surely the spirit of the game should never be eroded by a misconcieved or ill-thought-out rule. The ethos of the GAA is more than just blindly following rules above all else.
We're supposed to be a SPORTING organisation first, not a legalistic one. The primary purpose of sport is participation, not success (something we forget all too easily a lot of the time). If the two young lads didn't look like such good prospects would Aghaloo care if they left?
GAA clubs are formed to provide a facility for its members to participate in our sports. They are not set up to win competitions (although this can often seem like its more important), and are certainly not set up to prevent children from playing our games. Whilst it's not ideal for Aghaloo to lose two good young players, surely they're primary function within the GAA is to provide an opportunity for people to play our games, not to deny this opportunity.
In any other facet of life, we would be outraged by a CLUB (which means that membership is VOLUNTARY) denying it's members the right to resign and join a different club. Why do we insist on making the GAA different. It's nothing but mean spirited pettiness, and it has no place in the GAA

black&white (Sligo) - Posts: 1628 - 27/02/2009 09:54:42    219816

I see a posts on here told me i know nothing about football . Well i know the rules and maybe you should think maybe it is you that knows nothing about football not me lad ..

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 28/02/2009 01:36:31    220849