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Weekly Notes - 24th January 2007Tuesday night: the less hardy amongst you were probably describing it as a bit raw, a goodly number of our adult players being put through their paces by new manager Seán Doherty of Dublin fame, (Seán, a Wicklow man, captained the All-Ireland winning team of 1974), and the club administrators gathering for their first meeting of the New Year - altogether a hive of activity. But every hive has its drones and there they were, in the kitchen, refugees from the weather, drinking tea and scoffing biscuits - the county u-21s and the wounded sitting out training and surprisingly selector Philip Smullen - the other selector Ray Barry was on committee duty. Thursday training was taken by Offaly man Donal Clavin. Participants described both sessions as being of discernible benefit and eminently enjoyable.Training is open to all who have pretensions of playing for the club at Intermediate or Junior B (older minors are also welcome) and are willing to give the appropriate commitment. Playing membership has been set at 80euro - a snitch when one considers team overheads (insurance, registration, etc.), the coaching system that has been put in place and the facilities on offer. The Intermediates play St. John's Ballinteer at home in a friendly at 11am on Sunday and have a Division 2 (2006) play-off game against Dunlavin on February 3rd. Foundation courses for coaches are to be held in the Clubhouse as follows: Hurling 2nd and 9th February and Football 12th and 13th February. The limiting factor in the games' side of the club's activities is the availability of qualified (from the point of view of insurance cover) coaches. To become qualified one has to attend a coaching course. Participation in these courses is in itself an enjoyable and worthwhile experience so even if your interest in coaching in the short-term is only peripheral you might consider going along to one of them. The news you have been waiting for: the tickets for the Dinner Dance at 35euro (Saturday February 10th, not the 9th as stated last week) are now available. You have been warned. These tickets are a "hot-cake" phenomenon and early purchase is advisable if disappointment is to be avoided. They tell me a pair has been sold on e-bay at four times its face value, but then this may only be a hype scam: Fergus selling to himself to accelerate demand. To ensure that your party will be seated together adequate - underlined twice - notice must be given. The goal areas on the new pitch are being resodded. The ground staff has informed me that the sods need 4-5 weeks to bed in. In previous years this work was undone by a too early return to use; therefore activities involving play in the vicinity of the goals is verboten for this period. All interested parties please note. The report in December of the AGM was, to say the least, cursory so to make good this neglect we give here a brief overview of the out-going Chairman's address. Oliver, as is well known, was because of the particular circumstances prevailing (clubhouse development) given a two-year extension to the statutory three-year tenure for this office. The attendance, conscious of the demands placed on him during his period as chairman, was not surprised when Oliver stated he was taking a rest from committee work. They were relieved, however, to hear that he would still be informally involved, particularly in relation to phase II of the clubhouse development. In his speech he emphasised the importance of a time limit in the holding of office; it removes the perceived stigma of being voted out and promotes periodic rejuvenation. He said he was pleased to be leaving the position in the very capable hands of Gerry Walsh and he called on all members to give the new chairman their unqualified support. |
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