Convention 2012

The Annual Monaghan GAA Convention took place on Thursday night in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan town. Each club was represented on the night by up to three delegates, while the attendance also included Ard-Stiúrthóir Chumann Lútchchleas Gael Páraic Duffy.

The first report came from County Secretary Seán McKenna, who gave a detailed account of the year’s action on and off the playing pitches. McKenna admitted 2011 had been a frustrating year for Monaghan’s senior and Under-21 footballers and that inexperience had proved costly, but he paid tribute to Eamon McEneaney, Declan Smyth, Stephen McGinnity and all involved for their commitment and looked forward to “a more fruitful campaign in 2012”. Talking about the minor footballers, McKenna again thanked all involved, but he pointed out that a couple of key players had missed the championship game against Tyrone due to injuries sustained while on club duty and he suggested that minor panellists could be excused from club duties until Monaghan exit the minor championship.

Reporting on the senior hurlers, McKenna paid tribute to outgoing manager Frank Brady and his assistants Paddy Donnelly, Arthur Hughes, Alan Ryan and former trainer Kevin Maloney for their work over the last four years ago and he also acknowledged the work done by Brendan Murphy with the minor hurlers. Other highlights of McKenna’s report were his tribute to Pat McEnaney for his 20 years refereeing at inter-county level, his thanks to county sponsors Investec and his report on the progress to date of the development work at St. Mary’s Park, Castleblayney, which he expects to re-open in late 2012. The Monaghan Harps clubman also mentioned the revamped Monaghan GAA website, which was launched in early 2011, thanks to the work of Webmaster Séamus McQuillan, John Holland and Majella Boyd and he remembered deceased members including Pat Clarke (Clontibret), Noel Meegan and Leo Burns (both Donaghmoyne).

Treasurer Marion Donnelly presented the accounts for the year and she was happy to be able to report a surplus of €101,452 (up from €25,070) despite the ongoing recession. Gate receipts were down – mainly due to a lack of replays in the county championships – as was Monaghan’s share of the National League money, but fundraising under the auspices of Club Monaghan had contributed to an overall 3% increase in income, while expenditure had fallen by 5%. Reports sub-committees including CCC, Referees, Development Committee, Coaching and Games Development, Communications, the Youth Board, Culture and Language, Hurling Development, Cumann na mBunscol, Handball and Club Monaghan were also provided to the delegates via the Convention Handbook. As part of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Report, former Leitrim footballer Colm Regan, who now works in Croke Park on ASAP, launched the ‘Off the Booze and On the Ball’ programme which encourages clubs to go off alcohol for January.

Paul Curran gave the Chairman’s Address, where he focused on topics not covered in the Secretary’s report. Curran referred to the Strategic Plan and the progress achieved at the end of the plan’s second year. He also praised Club Monaghan for the huge amount of fundraising it had done during its first year and he welcomed the fact that Monaghan GAA had produced its own official yearbook, which is now on sale across the county and directly from clubs.

The meeting then moved on to the election of officers, with Chairman Paul Curran, Vice-Chairman Pádraig Sherry, Secretary Seán McKenna, Assistant Secretary Anita Finnegan, Ulster Council delegates John Connolly and Gerry Duffy, Youth Officer Cathal Hand, Development Officer Gerry McDonald all re-elected unopposed. Also unopposed were new PRO John Kieran, Hurling Officer Seán Guinan and Coaching Officer John McArdle, who take over from Siobhán McQuillan, Noel Mullaney and Eamon O’Hara respectively. That left just two votes to be made on the night, but the first was a close-run thing for the Assistant-Treasurer position, which took two ballots. The first vote saw Ailish McEntee of Seán McDermotts and Eileen Keenan from Corduff tied on 38 votes, while Clontibret’s Noel Mullaney (20 votes) and Inniskeen man Peter Dooley (17) were eliminated. Paul Curran, John Connolly and Brendan Farrell all withdrew from the vote to become delegate to Central Council, although Curran spelled out his position that the post should in future go to the County Chairman. That left three candidates – Declan Flanagan (Cremartin), John P Graham (Killeevan) and Aidan Quigley (Currin). Flanagan was the overwhelming choice with 65 votes to Graham’s 29 and Quigley’s 18.

A number of motions were passed on the note, most notably one from Clontibret to allow clubs name 30 players on their match-day panels in the provincial club championships and one from Killeevan that the Ulster Council should introduce a ‘back door’ system in the Ulster Minor Football Championship.

Cathaoirleach/Chairman: Paul Curran (Clontibret)

Leas-Cathaoirleach/Vice-Chairman: Pádraig Sherry (Drumhowan)

Rúnaí/Secretary: Seán McKenna (Monaghan Harps)

Rúnaí Cúnta/Assistant Secretary: Anita Finnegan (Aughnamullen)

Cisteoir/Treasurer: Marion Donnelly (Emyvale)

Cisteoir Cúnta/Assistant Treasurer: Eileen Keenan (Corduff)

Ard Comhairle/Central Council: Declan Flanagan (Cremartin)

Comhairle Uladh/Ulster Council: John Connolly (Currin) & Gerry Duffy (Drumhowan)

Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí/Public Relations Officer: John Kieran (Killanny)

Oifigeach na nÓg/Youth Officer: Cathal Hand (Ballybay)

Oifigeach Forbartha/Development Officer: Gerry McDonald (Donaghmoyne)

Oifigeach Oiliúna/Coaching Officer: John McArdle (Drumhowan)

Oifigeach Iomána/Hurling Officer: Seán Guinan (Carrickmacross)

The annual award winners for 2011 were also announced on Thursday. There was good news for the Duffy brothers from county champions Latton, as Owen and Kieran won the Senior and Young Footballer of the Year awards. Carrickmacross forward Mark Downey won the Intermediate Football award, while Cremartin midfielder Niall Flanagan was named Junior Footballer of the Year. Double-winners Castleblayney did another double in the hurling awards, with Brian McGuigan getting the nod in senior and Peter Treanor as the Young Hurler of the Year. Sharon Courtney was rewarded for a year which saw her win an All-Star award, get nominated for Footballer of the Year, captain Monaghan to an Ulster title and an All-Ireland final and win yet another county championship with Donaghmoyne via the Ladies Football award, while Truagh’s Siobhán McKenna got the camogie award after she led Monaghan to All-Ireland Junior success and Monaghan Harps man Conor McDonnell was the choice for Handballer of the Year. Darren Hughes was announced as the Club Monaghan Senior Footballer of the Year after a campaign where he impressed for Scotstown, Monaghan and Ireland. Cremartin were named as Club of the Year after a successful year which was crowned by their Junior double, while there was also a special merit award for Currin, who celebrated their 125^th year in style by getting promoted to senior. Youth Achievement awards will be presented to Truagh (Football) and Monaghan Harps (Hurling), while Truagh will also share a Referees Club Merit award with Magheracloone. Gerry Finnegan and Mary Woods won the club official awards, while the referees from all county finals will also receive presentations at the awards night on January 27. 1960s legends Gerry Fitzpatrick (Castleblayney) and Joe Carroll (Inniskeen) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

2011 Monaghan GAA Award Winners sponsored by The Northern Standard

Senior Footballer: Owen Duffy (Latton)

Intermediate Footballer: Mark Downey (Carrickmacross)

Junior Footballer: Niall Flanagan (Cremartin)

Young Footballer: Kieran Duffy (Latton)

Senior Hurler: Brian McGuigan (Castleblayney)

Young Hurler: Peter Treanor (Castleblayney)

Senior Club Official: Gerry Finnegan (Drumhowan)

Juvenile Club Official: Mary Woods (Inniskeen)

Handballer of the Year: Conor McDonnell (Monaghan Harps)

Camogie Player: Siobhán McKenna (Truagh)

Ladies Footballer: Sharon Courtney (Donaghmoyne)