GAA Convention delegates raise concerns over poaching of players

The topic has been a contentious one within GAA circles since its foundation, with counties finally seeking to implement some sort of regulation when introducing a rule between the 1950s and 1970s binding players to their parish club.

However, despite such moves, controversies arising out of the rule have continued to dog the GAA with some of the most high profile in recent years being the case of the O’Sullivan brothers in Kerry and the dispute between neighbouring Meath clubs, Duleek-Bellewstown and Curraha.

In any event, Ballinderreen waded in on this contentious issue at the County Convention when laying down a motion seeking amendments to the bye-laws binding players to the ‘first club’ they field for, be it in Go Games or the U-12 grade.

The motion was delivered by Michael Kelly, who stressed this was an issue that affected a lot of clubs in the county, particularly when it came to strong teams poaching players just on the border between two clubs. “Those players should not be allowed to play with another club,” he stated.

He asked delegates to back the motion which was seconded by Gort delegate Dermot Flaherty and supported by Tuam delegate Richie Williams who expressed his concern over “players wandering from one club to the other”.

However, Dominic Gallagher of Kinvara – the neighbouring club of Ballinderreen – called for a definition of a club’s catchment area to which Michael Kelly replied it was the diocesan parish boundary as set out by the Catholic Church.

Michael Burke of Kinvara said if that is the case then Ballinderreen and Kinvara would all be the one parish come January 1st (the one parish priest will serve both communities) – to which County Committee Chairman Noel Treacy remarked: “That would be some team!”

Gallagher subsequently re-entered the debate to highlight the parish rule, as it stands, “is not quite crystal clear”. He stressed this was not a battle between Kinvara and Ballinderreen but acknowledged the subject was akin to “opening up a massive can of worms”.

Killimor delegate John Larkin pondered though was the motion not looking to enforce a rule already there. “The rule has always been there,” he reiterated.

Chairman Treacy agreed, outlining that it was up to the clubs to implement the rule themselves and noted if clubs were losing players to neighbouring clubs then it was up to them to object. “If not, they are gone. You tell us,” he said.

He stressed that without some “divine inspiration”, it would be impossible for the County Committee to police every player – underage and adult – to determine if they were with their appropriate club.

St. James’ delegate Alfie Howley highlighted the difficulties city clubs were already having without the structure of the parish boundary, indicating, by and large, it was a free-for-all when it came to children choosing a club.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.