Wexford GAA Management Committee
Meeting 14/08/2017, Ferrycarrig Hotel
Information Bulletin
Website: There have been problems recently in easily finding competition tables on the county website and the PRO was asked to address this as a matter of urgency. It was also agreed that a group would be convened to look more generally at website and to make recommendations for improvements. The members of this group are: PJ Howlin, Aoife O’Connor, Mary Foley, Cian Ó Lionáin and Mick Nolan.
Games Development Administrator (GDA)
59 applications have been received for the GDA (football) post and a selection committee with representatives from the Coaching Committee, Croke Park and the County Board has been convened to manage the process. A total of nine applicants have been shortlisted for interview and there will be a second interview thereafter.
Fixtures
It was agreed that extra-time will be played, if needed, in Intermediate A football semi-finals in order to ensure representation in the Leinster competition which is due to start on 7 October. It was noted that TG4 is seeking to broadcast a range of county finals around the country and it was agreed that an approach should be made regarding possible televising of a Wexford county final.
The Fixtures Review Committee is finalising its work and will present recommendations to club workshops in Wexford (28 August, Ferrycarrig Hotel) and in Monamolin (Buffers Alley, 4 September). It is hoped that clubs will actively engage at these workshops and will then debate the proposals within their own clubs so that informed debate can take place at county convention when finalised proposals will be voted on.
Review of Underage Squads
It was agreed that a root and branch review of underage development squads and talent academies will be conducted before end-2017 in order to ensure that the squads are best positioned for 2018. Two review groups will be convened to assess key facts and outcomes around the various squads and the membership of the groups is as follows:
Football: Derek Kent, Margaret Doyle, Bobby Goff, Mícheál Martin, Marguerite Furlong, Jim McGovern, Eoin Morrissey and Seamus Hughes
Hurling: Derek Kent, Margaret Doyle, Micheal Martin, Dermot Howlin, Cian Ó Lionain, Shane O Hanlon , Eoin Morrissey, Willie Cleary
Hurling Proposals
The new hurling proposals were discussed with the Wexford position on the proposals to be decided at the next County Board meeting on 25 September. A special national Congress to decide on the proposals is scheduled for 30 September.
Páirc Charman
The situation with regard to the health and safety issues at Páirc Charman was discussed and the Development Officer advised that he had been in consultation with Faythe Harriers and not all issues had yet been addressed. The issue of whether games/training could take place was discussed, particularly whether insurance cover would be in place in the event of an incident. The Development Officer is to have further discussions with the Club in this regard.
Parish Rule
The matter of players playing illegally with clubs when not having received a transfer and not meeting the criteria of the Parish Rule was raised. It was agreed that the Rúnaí would email clubs and advise again of the criteria in our byelaws.
Croke Park Season Tickets
It was noted that the value and advantages of the Croke Park season ticket was recognised by supporters at the time of the Wexford vs Kilkenny game in Innovate Wexford Park as it guarantees a stand ticket for games and is also a source of income for the County Board. If the new hurling proposals are approved and home championship matches become more common the attractiveness of the ticket will become even more apparent.
Wexford GAA Management Committee
Meeting 28/08/2017, Ferrycarrig Hotel
Information Bulletin
Paddy Wickham RIP
The sad passing of Paddy Wickham, former County Board Chairman, was marked with a minute’s silence.
Senior teams
The decision by Seamus McEnaney to step down as senior football manager was noted and the massive work put in by him and by his backroom team was recognised. As was noted in his recent statement, there was a very positive relationship between Coiste Bainistí and Seamus and the achievement of promotion to Division 3 provides a platform from which to build for 2018.
It was agreed to appoint a committee to carry out the process of finding a successor to Seamus as Wexford’s Senior Football Manager. That committee’s recommendation will then go before County Board for ratification. Membership of the Committee is as follows: Derek Kent, Mícheál Martin, Margaret Doyle (Coiste Bainistí), Mícheál Wallace (County Board), Seamus Hughes (Football Advisory Committee).
With regard to the senior hurling manager, it is hoped that an announcement can be made in the near future.
Games Development Administrator (GDA)
After an extensive selection and interviewing process, Anthony Masterson is the successful candidate for the position of GDA with responsibility for Gaelic Football and the Coiste Bainistí wishes him every success in this. He will take responsibility for the development of Gaelic football within the county and will work with clubs, schools and talent academies and with the Football Advisory Committee which has commenced work on the development of a five year plan for Gaelic football in the county.
Anthony’s appointment forms part of an ongoing restructuring of coaching and games within the county and follows on from the appointment of Willie Cleary as the Hurling Player Development Coordinator. Other initiatives in this regard include a root and branch review of underage squads and the development of a targeted approach to increasing urban participation in our games.
Ferns Centre of Excellence
Recent erroneous media reporting regarding the next phase of development for the Centre of Excellence was noted and it was agreed that this matter should be definitively addressed and corrected at the next County Board meeting on 25 September. Drawdown of the sports capital grant that has been awarded to Wexford GAA has been delayed by the need to align trustees for the COE with those already in place for Innovate Wexford Park, not by any financial issue.
Other Business
It was noted that the problem identified on the website which was preventing easy access to competition tables has now been addressed.
Medals have not yet been presented to the Leinster junior football winning team from 2016 and it was agreed that a presentation event will be organised for the team this autumn.
An incident of a possibly irregularly constituted Wexford team at the under 14 Tony Forristal tournament on 26 August was brought to the attention of Coiste Bainistí. It was agreed that the matter should, on receipt of any official correspondence, be examined and pursued through the official disciplinary channels.
Health and safety issues identified at Páirc Charman, Wexford, in the lead-in to the 2017 Féile na nGael hurling competition are being addressed and a third inspection of the grounds by Leinster Council is due to take place on 11 September.
It was agreed that a review will be undertaken in early 2018 of the criteria for the allocation of All Ireland tickets
