Cumann Peile Réalt na Mara CLG

Secretary's Report to Annual General Meeting - 14/12/02

A chairde,

Welcome to our Annual General Meeting and hopefully this meeting will lay the foundation for both on field and off field activities for 2003. I have had the onerous task of replacing Stephen Scales who has now moved on to better things and spies on Glenbeigh.

I'll start off by dealing with the Senior team and other on field activities.

Training began in earnest in late January with plenty hill running in Rossbeigh sand dunes. This was followed by more sedate work on the all weather pitch in Killorglin where the cuter team members made their appearance. Our first game of the year was against our neighbours Glenbeigh which was won easily before we faced a resurgent Keel in the second round of the Mid Kerry league and suffered defeat much to our dismay.

Our County league campaign started with a good win over Churchill before we became unstuck and stuck in the mire of Lyreacrompane against a determined Duagh side. Our league campaign was mixed and we finished with 10 points. The involvement of Sean O'Sullivan and Donnacha Walsh at County level and the restricted number of matches which they could play for us certainly affected overall position at the end of the year. Teams selected gave it their best throughout the year in their absence and showed great determination.

The highlight of the Senior year was the winning of the O'Sullivan Cup on the 29th September and this was a sweet victory over rivals Keel who had hammered us a few weeks previously in the County League. Celebrations were not low key particularly when the fitter team members reached Killorglin!!.

Our Mid Kerry Championship campaign gave us the satisfaction of beating Keel again and a loss to Laune Rangers was disappointing after an invigorating campaign. The penalty saved as opposed to a penalty missed had John Evans and the Laune Rangers sideline team cringing. Almost a first for Cromane!!

Our Junior Championship campaign was also exciting with a good win over Ballyduff followed by a great revival in the second half against a confident St. Senans side. If St. Senans had shown as much temper during the game as in the post match dressing room, they would have have beaten us. Twenty three weeks elapsed before the semi-final against Finuge which we cruelly lost by a point. Finuge went on to beat Castlegregory in the final.

Overall, it was a creditable year at Senior Level and it shows the potential at this level. Our Senior team played 27 games in total and 33 players participated in competition. A number of players trained diligently all year without gaining first team places. These lads deserve special credit as they kept the team momentum and competition going. These lads need football which the B Team did not provide.

Our B team played 3 games this year and then shuddered to a halt as the club was unable to field a team. This raises serious questions as the Senior and B Team should operate very closely. The B Team should facilitate the blooding of the younger players for Senior competition and provide some therapy for those of us slightly beyond our prime. This is an issue which has to be addressed in terms of player and management enthusiasm.

Congratulations to Sean and Donnacha on playing with their respective Kerry teams. It promotes the club profile and area and gives great satisfaction to the voluntary effort. Hopefully Kerry will go all the way next year and reward our lads with medals.

Congratulations to the aforementioned, Paudie and Colm Joy on Mid Kerry participation.

On behalf of club members and the team, I would like to thank John Griffin for his complete commitment to the trainer's position and his support team of Patsy Joy and Michael Teahan who were present at almost every training session and match. Trainer and selector positions are often thankless jobs with plenty verbal abuse and stress from both players and public. The issue of discipline on sideline and pitch needs to be looked at more closely as cool heads on and off the pitch leads to cool strategy and winning performances with full team complement.

At Under 21 level, Paudie McCarthy represented the club at County Championship level with Mid Kerry and acquitted himself well. However there was disappointment in the final where Austin Stacks took the honours.

Our minors did not play in Mid Kerry this year but campaigned in the County league, Division 6. The team qualified for the final by defeating Cordal but lost to Renard. Two of our minors participated in the Mid Kerry team which won the County Championship. Congratulations to Donnacha Walsh and Paul Patrick O' Sullivan. Unfortunately, Paul Patrick was the victim of a self inflicted injury while training very late at night in Killorglin and could not play.

The Listry/Cromane amalgamation worked well at under age level and provided our younger players with competitive games. These teams show excellent potential and well done to all.

Now I'm going to thank the trainers and mentors en bloc. Minors - Colm Joy and Frank Walsh. U-16s - Colm Joy, Dermot Houlihan and Pat O'Shea. U-14s - Pat O' Shea, Michael Teahan and Johnny Costello U-12s - Kevin Corkery, Noel Foley and James Long U-10s - Mike O'Shea and Seamus O' Shea.

These lads deserve a special mention as underage is the lifeblood of the club. Michael O' Shea has been making great efforts to involve more parents at underage level. This is critical as a job shared reduces the workload on all.

Turning way from games there has been substantial progress with the field. The drainage work we started over the last few years has been a great success. People have commented on the fine field following the sanding and spiking work over the last few years. The construction of the stand and dugouts add greatly to club facilities which are the envy of many a club. Michael O'Riordan deserves constant praise for his work and the time he spends on field maintenance. Perhaps we could rent his services to other clubs in Mid Kerry as part of future fund raising efforts. Pat O' Shea has been spotted late in the evening shovelling earth and levelling. So much for retirement activities!! Well done Michael and Pat.

The Lotto has performed well again and Michael Healy will comment. The sellers work away every week and provide great service to the club. Thank you all. Again as said in other years " if you really can't sell tickets make sure you buy them" Every ticket counts. Our sponsors deserve special mention, Danny O' Sullivan, Cieran O' Callaghan, Johnny Bronco, The Red Fox, Bridie and Margaret O' Riordan, Eamon Carr and McDonalds, and Killorglin Credit Union.

The Brian Casey Memorial Day was once more a great success - we're blessed with the weather. This year the day had two new departures - Mass and the blessing of the boats on the strand in the morning and a ladies' football match in the afternoon. Substantial funds were again raised for the RNLI, Cromane Pre-School and Scoil realt na Mara. Well done to the organising committee.

Our discussions continue with the County Board on a host of issues, I have learned to apologise for player's rowdy behaviour on the field, (cop on Jonathon), flatter referees performances and praise county board officials when necessary all for the good of the club. Cromane are still treated as second class within the parish but moves have been made again in an attempt to rectify the matter. Representations have been made to the Munster Council which has abdicated its responsibility and referred the matter to the County Board. I will continue to annoy all and sundry in the pursuit of equality and an open parish. Perhaps recent changes at County Board level will assist in this matter. Peter Twiss (new Munster Council Delegate) will be shortly under pressure.

It remains for me to thank my club executive colleagues who put so much work into the running of this club, one has to see the work to believe it. Patrick Casey is Mr. Football and deserves special mention. I do not know how he does it or finds the time. He calls at any time of day or night and seems to know all official news even before I am notified. If there is ever a Cromane Hall of Fame, Patrick should be in it. Michael Healy operates with his usual quiet efficiency and keeps an eye on the finances, Ger Foley and Johnny Connor are always helping with the lotto draw. Fionan McCarthy performs a quiet function in attending the County Board meeting at considerable time and travel expense, Michael O' Riordan (Jnr) and Dan Carey are like substitutes on the bench waiting to spring into action to attend the numerous meetings. I would like to thank all of you who attend the monthly club meetings. Decisions have to be made democratically and fairly. A special mention for Seamus O'Shea who leads the younger lads in training and also maintains the club website. Pat Duffy for his insightful and slightly biased match reports.

There are more of you out there, I haven't mentioned personally, the car drivers, the supporters and all those who make this club tick. Thank you one and all.

On a final note, I will emphasise the need to become involved at committee level, an infusion of new ideas and enthusiasm is important. The other big issue I see is promotion of the game at underage level where there is intensive sport activity. An issue which has to be addressed is the provision of coaching at primary school where many young players are slipping away to other sports. The club needs to fill a new position of school liaison officer to assist school staff.

The year saw the deaths of two former clubmen, Seamus Burkett and Dan Sheehan, may they rest in peace.

On a final note, We have built a solid foundation on and off the pitch. If we can all pull together Club Realt na Mara will prosper and grow, 2003 is going to be our year!

Croman abú is our battle cry!!

Up Cromane.

Yours in sport

Tomás Ó hAodha
Rúnái
Cumann Peile Réalt na Mara CLG