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Sean Nugent Is New Tipperary County Board Chairman

Thursday, 22 December 2011

Sean Nugent is the new Tipperary County Board Chairman. The Kilsheelan man was elected without opposition at the County Senior Board Convention held in the Dome Semple Stadium last Monday night. He takes over from outgoing chairman Barry O'Brien who has completed his three year term.
Mr. Nugent was County Vice Chairman to the senior Board for the past three years in which he was the head of the CCC.
In his opening speech, Sean said he felt privileged to be elected chairman of one of the best amateur sporting organisations in the world today.
He went on to speak of the importance of achieving more success at inter-county level. It is important to maintain proper structures for both games, hurling and football, he said. The success at inter county level is the best promotional tool that we could ask for and the plans are there for future success.
'In hurling we have shown a greater consistency in the last few years than in the previous twenty. We have appeared in three All-Irelands and winning in 2010. We won the U-21 as well which bodes well for the future. However the absence of success at minor has to be of major concern,' he said.
In football, he said that despite winning the All-Ireland minor last September, history tells us that success to follow at adult level is not automatic.
Moving on to finance, the new chairman urged all delegates to work together in order to reduce the deficit in the bank balance that the Board is in at the moment.
Outgoing County Tipperary Chairman says that the financial record for this year doesn't make good reading after the balance sheet revealed that the Board has a deficit of almost a quarter of a million.
He made the remarks in his final address to Convention after he completed his three year term as chairman of the county board.
He worried about the reduction in the attendances at the County senior hurling and football championships.
'Should we consider returning to a straight knockout system to attract the crowds back,' he wondered.
'Attendances at our games is low because of backdoors and sidedoors. This is not what it should be. If the public show a disinterest in our championships it's time the Board should address the problems,' he added.
On a more positive note he said that 2011 was a great year for Tipperary GAA. '2011 was a great year for the county. We reached our third All-Ireland Hurling final in a row but unfortunately we were not able to win it. However on the third Sunday in September our Minor footballers brought home the Tommy Markham Cup. This was without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best things to happen in Tipperary this year. It was also one of the greatest moments of my life as Chairman of the County Board,' he declared.
On the local scene he went on to compliment Drom Inch in winning the county senior hurling title. He said they area wonderful club. 'As a rural club, they are an example to all other clubs of what can be achieved,' he said.
He also complimented Thomas MacDonaghs for their achievement in winning the County Senior Football title. They proved that given players, not usually associated with playing gaelic football, could win when they got the opportunity to do so. He added that Group teams such as Thomas MacDonaghs may be the way forward.
'If we are serious about promoting hurling and football, we will have to look at more group teams and allow more players play at a higher standard,' he said.
Treasurer's Report.
Earlier the outgoing chairman said that there would be an executive meeting held in January to discuss methods in reducing the County Senior Board deficit. Treasurer, Eamon Buckley said in his report that the returns for the year showed that the Board showed a deficit of €219,803 as compared to €190,074 for 2010.
The year's income was down from €5,461,641 (in 2010) to €4,645,428 Expenditure was also down on last year. It was €5,587,910 (in 2010) and €4,865,231 (in 2011)
Gate receipts were down on last year, from €323,249 to €263,605.
Motions
Five of the six Motions down on the Clar were discussed on the night.
1. 'In the aftermath of the All Ireland Finals where there is a significant drop in media attention of our games that the GAA at national level orchestrate and co-ordinate in conjunction with all counties a major publicity campaign with all media outlets to promote and raise the profile of County, Club and Provincial championship games.' (Kilsheelan)
This motion was passed by a large majority.
2. 'That all match umpires be given similar training to that recieved by referees before they can officiate at matches.' (Burgess)
Burgess Chairman, Dinny Ryan spoke on behalf of the Burgess Club. John Lonergan, Chairman of the County Referees Committee said his committee would bring the suggestion on board at future referee's meetings. The motion was passed.
3. 'We propose that Rule 6.27 TO 2011 be changed to read Under-10 and younger age groups. Games in Under-10 and younger age groups shall be organised on the Go Games model and with teams being a maximum of 11 a side and structured to ensure that all participants get to play in the game. At Under 10 level competitions may also be organised on a mini-league format on the basis that the teams are a maximum of 11 aside and that provision be made for all members of the panel to participate in the game,
Changes to Rule: Change of age from 12 to 10 years and the removal of the word "full".'(Cill Naile)
Killenaule club, want the U-12 Hurling championship returned to its full glory i.e. fifteen a side which existed up to 2010. In 2011, the fifteen a side was replaced by the eleven a side Go-Game format. Michael Blake spoke on behalf of the motion stating that his Club were the last team to win the County U-12 Hurling championship with fifteen a side. Despite suggestions from Nicholas Moroney, Coaching officer to the Tipp Board and John Costigan, Tipperary Central Council Representative to Croke Park, requesting that the new format be given a chance to develop, the Killenaule club pursued the matter but their motion was easily defeated.
4. 'Due to the economic downturn and the serious impact this is having on GAA clubs fundraising activities, we propose that the GAA defers all major structural developments at National and Provincial level and redirects the finance thus saved in helping our clubs to survive through this difficult time.' (Moyne-Templetuohy)
Former County Chairman, Sean Fogarty spoke on behalf of the motion and suggested that major Construction on GAA Stadiums be discontinued in light of the present downturn in finance so that the clubs could pursue their ambitions of improving their own grounds. He cited the restructuring of McHale Park, Mayo, Casement Park, Pairc Ui Chaoimh and a second stadium in Leinster as the grounds in question.
There was no opposition and the Motion was passed on a show of hands.
5. 'That Convention directs Co CCC to review Motion 9 from Fánaithe na Sionnaine, passed at County Convention on 20th December 2010, (re: players whose home club does not field an adult team in a particular code, may play for another club in that code) and make recommendations to Co Management and Co Board before end January 2012. Review to include in its considerations number of players, number and location of clubs, application for approval, restrictions, etc.' (Tulach Sheasta)
The motion was proposed in light of the successful venture taken by Shannon Rovers as they claimed the North Intermediate Football title with four players on the team from outside clubs. At the outset, Denis Floyd, Newport suggested that this motion was not intended as a slight on any one club but rather a reflection on the amount of clubs that did not take part in Gaelic Football at adult level.
He also added that there was no restriction on players wanting to play with one club this year and move to another club next year.
Joe Hannigan, Shannon Rovers said that was a lot of players in North Tipperary want to play football but have no club to play with. He added that were also capable of playing with Tipperary and needed the exposure to do so.
Chairman, Sean Nugent replied by suggesting that players wishing to play with another club should apply before the Gradings committee meet in the new year.
6. 'Proposed new bye law.: Intermediate teams that win the County championship shall not be compelled to go senior; they shall have the option to apply for senior status to the County grading committee who shall make the appropriate recommendation to the County committee. Intermediate teams that win the County championship in consecutive years shall be compelled to go senior. (Upgrading to senior hurling and football at present covered by bye law 26 (b)' (Kilsheelan).
Motion was withdrawn.
Election Of Officers
There were two elections on the night. Michael Bourke, Upperchurch-Drombane was elected as the new Vice Chairman. He defeated Michael McCormack, Fethard by 140 votes to 50.
In the race for the position of County Development Officer, Jimmy Minogue, Nenagh Eire Og defeated Michael McCormack, Fethard by 146 to 50.
The full List of Officers is:
President, Michael Maher, Holycross-Ballycahill; Vice President, Matt Hassett, Toomevara; Chairman, Sean Nugent, Kilsheelan; Vice Chairman, Michael Bourke, Upperchurch-Drombane; Treasurer, Eamon Buckley Latten Cullen; Assistant Treasurer, John Donovan, Thurles Sarsfields; Development Officer, Jimmy Minogue, Nenagh Eire Og; Coaching Officer, Nicholas Moroney, Saint Patrick's Drangan; Irish Language and Culture, Josephine Cahill, Thurles Sarsfields; Youth Officer, John Smith, Thurles Sarsfields; PRO, Ger Ryan, Templederry; Central Council, John Costigan, J K Brackens; Two Reps to Munster Council, P J Maher, Boherlahan, Donie Shanahan, Toomevara.

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