Brophy pondered what 1991 would hold in store

WHAT’S going to happen on the Wicklow GAA scene in 1991’ asked reporter Jim Brophy in the Wicklow and Bray People in earl 1991, 30 years ago.

‘We heard Barney Rock suggest on the Radio Horizon programme last Friday that Wicklow could be a force in the Leinster championship this year and that they are likely to be good prospects over the next couple of years.

‘I suppose, if you forget about the final quarter of the game against Dublin last year there wasn’t much between the sides. I think Wicklow didn’t show the same commitment as Baltinglass did in their All-Ireland win last year and that was really the difference.

‘Watching Baltinglass playing Thomas Davis in the Leinster final two weeks ago one couldn’t help but note the total dedication of every man. The Dublin lads had to fight for every ball and when they got it they rarely had the freedom to place the ball to one of their colleagues.

Indeed, the Tallaght lads also ensured that Baltinglass got little chance to pick out their men either and this was what really made it such a close affair.

‘The Wicklow county team must become a club if they are to win the Leinster title and this can only be done by constant training and preparation.

‘But it takes more than training and preparation to win a Leinster title – we must have the material. We have to find at least five more players if Wicklow are to make it to Leinster. We had weak links on the team that fell to Dublin and we have to improve the line up if we are to go places within the next couple of years.

‘This is where we have to look to clubs to provide more material for the panel. If we could be sure that all the Wicklow clubs would be attempting to do a ‘Baltinglass’ within the next couple of years, then we’d have a greater supply of players from which to select.

Brophy asked how many Senior clubs had done any planning for the championship or would it be left to a couple of weeks ahead of the first round.

‘Has every Senior club got a coach or is it going to be left to a group of people shouting in from the sideline?’ he asks.

‘This, of course, does not apply to Senior only. Every club with an ambition to win a title at any level must now be working on the club structures so as to ensure a good showing.

‘When I was coming back from Newbridge two weeks ago (Leinster club final) I passed two GAA headquarters within a few hundred yards of each other. The first as Ballyboden St Anne’s and the second was Thomas Davis. Two magnificent buildings in the centre of playing pitches.

Those two buildings had every amenity, including halls, dressing rooms, bars, etc. They would likely have hundreds of members probably paying a fee in the region of 25 or 50 pounds yearly.

‘Whether we like it or not, that is the GAA club of the future. Otherwise, the game won’t survive.

‘There are several of those clubs in Dublin. Not all are winning top honours, but all are helping the GAA in Dublin to stay on top of the pile in spite of all kinds of opposition.

‘Most of those clubs would have a dozen sub-committees who are responsible for particular jobs.

‘I agree that Dublin is a very different jettle of fish to Wicklow in terms of population.

‘This is why the Commission last year suggested a cut down in the number of clubs in Wicklow. If we had far less clubs we would have a better chance of building better quality clubs that would be fully equipped.