Updated: Saturday, 26th January, 2008 12:00am
Print
EmailEmergency Drumree meeting
THE future of Gaelic football in Drumree hangs in the balance this week as the club prepares to convene an emergency meeting this Thursday, 17th January.
Top of the agenda will be a proposal not to affiliate an adult football team for 2008 At a meeting held by the club last week it was decided not to affiliate, but after a strongly worded letter opposing the decision, which was signed by 12 senior members, it was decided to convene an extraordinary meeting to discuss the matter.
At Monday night`s Co Committee in Navan, Drumree formally requested that a member of the Co Committee attend the meeting.
Another issue that needs to be resolved before a definitive decision could be make is the rule regarding dual players affiliation with two clubs.
Drumree delegate David Troy sought clarification regarding playing football with one club and hurling with another.
No definitive answer was procured from the chairman Barney Allen and it was agreed that the status quo be maintained whereby players who were already playing football with one club and hurling with another will be allowed to continue to do so, despite rule 34 stating the opposite.
Monday`s adjourned convention preceded the monthly meeting and a proposal to give clubs the option to submit documents and correspondence in either English or Irish was defeated, 34-31.
Amazingly, another hot topic for debate was the pylon issue and Bernie Andrews of the North East Pylon Pressure Group informed the delegates that the problem is on their doorstep.
She informed delegates that 21 clubs in Meath will be affected by the route of the pylons and the new facility of Dunganny is right in the middle of the proposed route.
She also highlighted the alleged health dangers to those within a 600-metre vicinity of the pylons. She said that every child and adult who visited Dunganny could be harmed by the pylons if Eirgrid insist on running them overground.
There was also a discussion about the special congress proposal to adopt the findings of a Burnout Taskforce and abolish the minor and u-21 inter-county competitions for a trail period of two years in favour of an under-19 competition.
Ahead of the Special Congress in Sligo on Saturday, 26th January, Co Committee chairman Barney Allen wanted to get the feeling of the delegates regarding the suggestion to abolish minor and u-21 inter-county competitions.
Some delegates expressed concern that players might be lost to another code if there was no minor football. Others suggested that the strain of playing football puts added pressure on students who are preparing for their Leaving certifictae. A small majority of the delegates were in favour of maintaining the minor and u-21 competitions.
