St. John’s G.A.A Club AGM 2014 ( report by Club P.R.O. Michael
McGee)
Saturday 6th
December 2012 took place in Cuilbeg
Stenson Park meeting rooms.
Attendees were as
follows: Chairman Colm Nevin, Treasurer Gerry Quinn, Secretary Sharon Smith, Niall Gordon, Owen McLean, Gene Flynn, Paddy Galvin, Michael McGee P.R.O., John Leyden, Fergal Kelly, Charlie Jordan, Ray Henry, Catherine Stenson, Willie Grady, Christy Murphy, Sean Browne, Bridie McLean, Nuala Flanagan, Tommy McManus, Pat Corcoran, David Rooney & Shane Stenson.
Apologies received from John Greene, Gerard Egan, Fergal Henry, Seamus Flanagan, Charlie Kelly, Anne Kelly and Thomas Kelly.
With an impressive
turnout for the 2014 AGM of the St. John’s G.A.A Club Chairman Colm Nevin
opened the meeting and welcomed all present.
He asked for more people to attend the monthly meetings. He thanked his “two wingmen” Gerry Quinn
& Sharon Smith for their outstanding work throughout the year.
Club Secretary Sharon
Smith read out the minutes from last year’s AGM .
Chairman’s report:
In his report Chairman Colm Nevin expressed
his gratitude to a small number of people who are doing Trojan work in the club.
The pitch maintenance
led by Niall Gordon and Charlie Kelly also come in for thanks from the Chairman
as did Christy Murphy the Club’s Co. Board delegate. Nevin was also fulsome in his praise for all
the people who raised money for the club by way of lotto and bag packing. “The accounts will show the big contribution
of €13,458 a staggering €7,000 increase on the previous year’s accounts. This was never done before and I acknowledge
it”, commented the Chairman.
He also thanked the
business people who sponsor signs in Stenson Park and their main sponsor
Michael Scanlon. Michael has generously sponsored the club for the past number
of years. But the Chairman suggested that the club possibly look at getting a
new sponsorship deal instead of relying on Michael Scanlon’s generosity each
year. The €1,000 received from Scoda was
described by the Chairman as a tremendous team effort. This initiative was driven by Niall
Gordon. Owen McLean was also commended
for his excellent work as Kit man for the Senior teams.
He had words of concern
regarding the Juvenile structure which needs to be “revamped” according to the
Chairman. We need underage managers
coming in and helping out and we need at least 4 coaches involved.
Adult teams reports
The Senior team of
manager Anthony Brennan and the two Sean’s
Browne & Reilly, Niall Gordon, Ray Henry Snr, Intermediate, Charlie Jordan & Ger Egan
U-16, Feral Henry & Joe Grehan were warmly thanked for their efforts.
The Chairman read out the Senior report compiled by Sean Browne. And in
it he detailed in 11 league matches they won six and lost five finishing 6th
in league table standings. And in the
Championships lost the opening rounds to Tubbercurry the eventual champions and
St. Mary’s runners-up and then followed this up with wins over Tourlestrane,
Curry & Coolera/Strandhill
respectively. Training took place
in Emmet Og Pitch in Longford 3 times a week and a good turnout of 20-25
players each night. The Chairman described
it as a success but expensive at €100 a night and also some petrol expenses
were given to players. There was a commitment there added the Chairman.
Player Injury’s
However there were
injury’s most notably to Mickey O’Hehir shoulder injury against St. Mary’s,
Aaron Clerkin , David Rooney. Niall
Hayes is going through the insurance and may need surgery according to the
Chairman. One man who does require surgery is Mickey O’Hehir. He faces a €7,100 medical bill with an
estimate for €6,025 for surgery alone in the Santry Sports Clinic. Colm proposed the Club come up with €1000 and
another €1000 from the players and €600 from the player himself. Paddy Galvin asked was the player “capable
coming up with €600 euros.” The Chairman said he was.
Treasurer Gerry Quinn
has two trains of thought on it. First, he felt “the injury was
compounded. Something has to click in
that guys are not playing with injury’s and this needs to be looked out.
Secondly with the Insurance Scheme should we be looking for better cover!”
The Chairman explained that Mickey came back
training and his shoulder went again. Colm would like to see a proper Insurance
Officer in place and to do it efficiently.
He felt if Mickey O’Hehir’s injury “was dealt with it wouldn’t have cost
as much”.
The Chairman
congratulated Aaron Clerkin U-21 & Shane Stenson who are called into the
County U-21 & Senior team
respectively.
The Chairman stated
that since last October there was no player’s meeting. He went back to Anthony
Brennan to say “they were not renewing his services.” Senior players Shane Stenson, David Rooney
and selector Sean Browne were in attendance and Colm congratulated Shane
Stenson on his recent Sligo G.A.A Club All-Star Award and to the legendary
Paddy Galvin on his Hall of Fame Award both richly deserved.
Underage reports
Reports by Fergal Henry
Minor, Charlie Jordan U-16’s, Niall Gordon Intermediate, Kevin Patton U-8’s
were read out.
Minor’s league success
Fergal Henry expressed
his concern “that a number of players went to Connacht rugby and others were called
into the senior team and county set up and training was almost impossible to
organise. With a better organisation he felt the team was good enough to at
least qualify for the Championship semi-finals (15 a side) which they were well
capable off”. Fergal Henry & Joe
Grehan were the Minor managers and brought great success with the capture of
the minor league title this year.
Charlie’s angel’s star
Charlie Jordan report
he said the team won 5 out of 6 championship matches just losing out in the
final to Calry. The Club also had 3
members starring on the Sligo development squad and on the winning U-16 Inter county
Webb Cup tournament and that’s positive commented the U-16 manager. He also thanked the committee, fellow mentors
and players and the players especially for their commitment. He ended his
report by congratulating Shane Stenson & Paddy Galvin on their recent
awards. Colm Nevin wanted to be associated with Charlie Jordan’s remarks.
Colm Nevin along with Kevin Reilly organised
the U-14’s but alarmingly claimed “they seemingly were leaderless that team”. “Something
needs to be looked at with just 6 players turning up for training. Yet the team only forfeited one game and that
was the last one against Geevagh. “We lost all our games”. “The underage structure needs a radical
shakeup and is probably deep rooted which started 5-6 years ago.” But it can be
improved stated the Chairman.
Treasurer’s
report
Gerry Quinn delivered a
comprehensive Treasurers report which showed a surplus of €1679. Quinn is “delighted with the fortnightly
lotto draw which brings in €250-300 euro’s every two weeks and is being run by
a small group of very dedicated people. From April- November €4,500 was raised
by lotto sales. This is a fantastic success,” acknowledged the Treasurer.
The scrap was also a
success with thanks to Niall Gordon bringing in over €6,000. “We can’t depend
on it though with fluctuating prices.”
A number of other queries
were competently answered by the club Treasurer.
Following the Treasurers report the Chairman
thanked Gerry Quinn for an excellent report.
“The lotto is going very well but with
Carraroe Stores closing down we will need to find another couple of premises to
get the lotto into.” said the Chairman.
Boston Tea Party
Fundraiser
It was announced that
the Club’s Boston Tea Party will go ahead on January 31st next. Tables of 10-12 will be €20 a head. It’s a
great fundraiser for the club and proposed to get a committee in place to
organise it.
Election of Officers:
The Chairman stated
that due to work commitments was stepping down.
He said he was also involved in training the U-14’s & Insurance
Officer.
Sharon Smith Secretary & Gerry Quinn
Treasurer also confirmed they were stepping down due to work commitments.
Paddy Galvin proposed
Christy Murphy but he declined . Ray Henry was asked but also declined.
Fergal Kelly without
hesitation offered his services to help out at Juvenile level whatever way he
could.
Former Chairman John Leyden gave an impromptu
and passionate speech when he said “This is one of the most important meetings
in the history of the club. I haven’t still got over the embarrassment of the
semi-final defeat. We need to try and rectify things for 2015. I have huge
concerns going forward. The code of ethics is not there he claimed. Quite a few players gave great commitment
while others are not senior standard. Tubbercurry were defeated in last year’s
final and within weeks were planning for this year bid. Many players make huge
sacrifices while others go missing according to the former Chairman. The Club won 2 adult championships in 2013 but where are all those players” he asked.
He described “Shane Stenson as the most improved player and with the
minor’s success. We want a 5 year plan and
proposed Fergal Kelly to Chair Bord na Nog. With his leadership skills to put
plans together.”
Fergal couldn’t gave a firm commitment at this
stage but it seems likely to will take up the position
Senior Selection Sean
Browne asked that the management committee do all they can in order to try to
get jobs for players as a number of them will be going to the States for work
in the new year. They are looking for full time jobs he added. The Senior
selector announced that he is 95% sure of what players that are going and who
are staying.
As no candidates for
the main positions was not forthcoming the Chairman asked that the former
Chairmen of Christy Murphy, Charlie Jordan, John Leyden & Ray Henry to come
up with names for the positions.
The meeting will
reconvene in 2 weeks time on Saturday 20th December at 5 p.m. in the
Cuilbeg meeting rooms in Stenson Park.
The election of
officers that did take place are as follows:
Presidents: Fr. Jim Murray, Fr. Gillolly & Fr. Walsh
Proposed: John Leydon
& Seconded by Willie Grady/
Patrons: Gene Flynn
& Paddy Galvin
Proposed: Owen McLean & Seconded by Charlie Jordan
P.R.O.: Michael McGee
Proposed: Paddy Galvin
& Seconded by Ray Henry
Assistant P.R.O.: Niall
Gordon
Proposed: Michael McGee & seconded by Sean Browne
Insurance Officer: Colm
Nevin
Proposed: Charlie
Jordan & Seconded by Sean Browne
County Board Delegate:
Christy Murphy
Proposed: Gene Flynn
and Seconded by John Leyden
Irish Language Officer:
Mick Barrett
Proposed: Ray Henry and
seconded by Niall Gordon
Coaching Officer:
Charlie Jordan
Proposed: Gerry Quinn
and seconded by Niall Gordon
The meeting was then
adjourned:
