District boards
from this division it will result in a drop of between 40 and 50% of the revenue to the board.
This year alone in Avondhu the Junior hurling championship accounted for 44% of the total gates. How could any division sustain that level of loss any year he stated. The Chairman felt that the Coiste Chontae should be examining the senior and intermediate grades and re organising and even regrading some of these teams back to divisional activity.
It is alarming that Cork has dropped as far back off the pace at inter county level so something needs to be done.
The Chairman continued it is most disheartening for us as Divisional Officers to hear a County Board Officer state that his view for divisions would be to and he quoted: ‘To organise Scór and organise coaching in our National Schools.’
What impact have the county champions at senior and Intermediate level made at Munster championship level since 2003 in comparison to the Junior champions?
The Junior champions have contested twelve winning eight Munster titles, three All Irelands and being beaten in four.
The Intermediate champions have contested eight won five and took two All Ireland titles while they lost three. The seniors have contested five, won three. They took one All Ireland and lost two.
These facts alone speak for themselves he declared. If something is not broken then why fix it. He urged the Coiste Chontae to leave the Junior championships alone. Let the Divisions he said ‘Hold onto what they have at present’.
Hopefully he stated common sense will prevail and we can move forward in the years ahead as one especially with the new developed Pairc Ui Chaoimh coming on stream next June.
In conclusion he thanked his fellow officers for their invaluable work and assistance during the past year, to the club delegates for their attendance and contributions at the forthnighly meetings, to the clubs for their warmth and courtesy to him during the past 12 months.
A special word of thanks was expressed to the various officers of Coiste Chontae who have provided valuable assistance during the year and to Mairead and Barbara in the Mainport office for their courtesy.
John Courtney presented the Secretary’s Report which was in great detail. In relation to Social media Mr Courtney stated that the Avondhu webiste, twitter and facebook accounts continue to increase in viewing numbers.
Our website had 68,484 visits during 2016 an increase of nearly 3,500 on the previous year. It received a huge increase in new visitors with 93% of all visits from Ireland. People in 114 countries visited the web in 2016.
The one big increase he outlined is the number of visitors from mobile phones and tablets totalling 40,502 in the past year. The Board had 1,720 likes in the Facebook page and 3,676 followers on Twitter.
The Runaí concluded by stating that he felt the divisions in Cork are coming to a crossroads regarding competitions. The losing of the Under 21 hurling championship that was taken over by the County Board has meant the loss of five divisional winners and in effect the loss of five sponsors.
The Avondhu Division ran their own Premier Under 21 hurling championship in 2016.
The Junior hurling championship nearly went also. It meant delaying the draws and could have amounted to the loss of six more Divisional winners.
He concluded by stating that the Divisions are the backbone of the GAA in a county the size of Cork and it has served Avondhu clubs and the Cork County Board well since 1924.
John Roche Treasurer presented a very detailed financial report. Convention was also addressed by Richard Murphy Co Board Development Officer and Diarmuid Gowen Munster Council delegate.
The presentation of medals was made by the Chairman to the following hurling clubs: JAHC Harbour Rovers, JBHC(1) Killavullen, JCHC Newtownshandrum, JBHC(2) Mallow, Under 21 Premier Hurling Charleville, Under 21 A Hurling Kilworth, Div 1 HL Harbour Rovers, Div 2 HL Kilshannig, Div 3 HL Killavullen.
The football titles went to JAFC Ballyclough, JBFC(1) Grange, JBFC(2) Clyda Rovers, Under 21 A FC Fermoy, Under 21 B FC Clyda Rovers, Div 1 FL Kilshannig, Div 2 FL Glanworth, Div 3 FL Araglin.