St. John's G.A.A Club AGM 2014

St. John’s G.A.A  Club AGM 2014 ( report by Club P.R.O. Michael McGee)

Saturday 6^th 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 6^th 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 31^st 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 20^th 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: