Updated: Saturday, 2nd February, 2008 12:00am

Print | Email |

Reprieve for Drumree footballers

THE distinctive red and white hoops of Drumree will be seen around Meath`s football fields this summer after club members voted in favour of fielding a team in 2008 at the club`s extraordinary meeting on Thursday night. 

The gravity of the situation was reflected in the fact that the club requested the presence of a Co Committee official at the meeting and chairman Barney Allen attended.

The decision to continue with a football side was carried by what was termed by one source as a "near unanimous decision." 

The Drumree source added that other clubs had been "circling like vultures" looking for players when there was a prospect that the club would not be fielding a football team this year. If Drumee had disbanded, the footballers would effectively have become free agents.

However, that is no longer an issue after the vote to retain the team was carried following a lengthy discussion in the packed clubhouse. 

Drumree field a team in the JFC while they also have a side in the SHC and the debate over whether they should put out a football team or not has sharply brought into focus the problems facing clubs under the contentious Rule 34.

"The rule is unsatisfactory to us as it stands," said the Co Committee chairman. "To apply that rule as it is outlined in the official guide would put hurling clubs such as Wolfe Tones and Moylagh out of existence."

It was originally proposed by some members of Drumee GAA club towards the end of last year not to affiliate an adult football team for 2008. However, after a strongly worded letter opposing the decision, signed by 12 club members, the EGM was held to vote on the issue.

The proposal not to field a football team stirred up strong emotions and it is understood that views on both sides of the argument were forcefully expressed in the packed clubhouse on Thursday night although "without any theatrics."

It is believed that there are those in the club who feel that by disbanding the football team, the hurling side would benefit and become a much stronger force as the team would be allowed to use more players currently playing the big ball game with  Dunshaughlin.

There are those involved in the Drumree club who feel that they are suffering from being located so close to a big oufit like Dunshaughlin.

The view is that young players tend to gravitate towards the bigger, better known set-up leaving Drumree with considerably less playing resources than might otherwise be the case.

However, Drumree footballers have earned a reprieve, at least, although transfer requests from three players, John Coleman and David McMahon (to Dunshaughlin) and Peter Smith (to Dunsany) will be dealt with by the Co Committee this Friday night in Navan.

*See additional story on Football section.