Cumann Luthchleas Gael Roinn Oirthear Chorcaí Comhdháil Bhlíantúil 2011 Lios gCúl, 7ú Nollaig 8.30i.n. Clár 1. Tuarascáil an Rúnaí Secretary’s Report 2. Tuarascáil an Chisteóra Treasurer’s Report 3. Oráid an Chathaoirligh Chairman’s Address 4. Bronnadh na mBonn Presentation of Medals 5. Toghacháin na nÓifigeach Election of Officers 6. Na Rúin Motions Officers 2011 Uachtarán: Derry O’Brien (Cobh) Leas-Uactaráin: John Hennessy (Midleton), Willie Ring (Cloyne), Jerry O’Sullivan (Cloyne), Tom Joe O’Riordan (Castlelyons), Gerard Lane (Bride Rovers), Jim Sarsfield (Watergrasshill), Dave Hoare (St. Catherine’s) Cathaoirleach: Michael O’Brien (Aghada) Leas-Chathaoirleach: Richard Fitzgerald (Russell Rovers) Runaí: Tracey Kennedy (Killeagh) Cisteoir: Jerome O’Brien (Cloyne) Oifigeach Caidreamh Poiblí: Derek Kiely (Youghal) Oifigeach Forbartha/Cultúir: John Joe O’Regan (Lisgoold) Executive Members: Tony Cody (Dungourney – Referees’ Administrator) Ken Murray (Midleton) Aidan Swayne (Fr. O’Neill’s) John O’Donoghue (Cobh) Tuarascáil an Runaí Samhain, 2011 A Cháirde Gael, Is mór an pribhléid dom an tuarascáil seo, mo chéad mar Runaí, a chur os comhair an Comhdháil Bhlíantúil seo anocht. It is my privilege to present my first annual report as Runaí of this Board to you tonight. My first year in office has been an eventful and challenging one in many ways, but has also been a rewarding and valuable experience for me, and I would like to begin by thanking you, the clubs, for your support and co-operation during the year. In all, the Board ran 17 competitions in 2011, with 16 of these completed at the time of writing, and almost 400 games were played across all competitions. It was a historic year in many ways, with the successful running of the inaugural Imokilly/Avondhu Regional Division 1 Hurling League, the launch of An Illustrated History of the GAA in East Cork 1924-2010, and the first East Cork Final played under lights, but more of all these later. County Championships A special congratulations to Carrigtwohill, who this year won their first County Senior Hurling Championship title since 1918. Imokilly teams also completed a County double at U21 B level for the second year in a row, with St. Catherine’s winning the hurling and Glenbower Rovers the football. Midleton also claimed the County U21 A Hurling title for the first time in 22 years – well done to all. It is worth noting that East Cork teams also contested the County Premier Intermediate Hurling Final (Youghal) and the Intermediate Hurling Final (Fr. O’Neill’s), reminding us yet again of the high standard of hurling in this division. Imokilly Teams Once again, we fielded teams in both County Senior Championships. The early rounds were played on a round- robin basis, and we reached the knock-out stages in hurling, only to be defeated by eventual County Finalists, CIT. Round 1: Muskerry 1-18 Imokilly 1-15 Round 2: Imokilly 3-18 Duhallow 1-9 Round 3: Imokilly 2-12 Avondhu 0-16 Knock-out Round: CIT 3-15 Imokilly 2-12 Our thanks to Ronan Dwane (Aghada - Coach), Maurice Ahern (Dungourney), Don Hegarty (Carraig na bhFear) and John Desmond (Watergrasshill) for all their work. In football, we only played two games as having suffered two losses, we were unable to field in the third group game. Round 1: Carbery 0-15 Imokilly 0-10 Round 2: Duhallow 3-16 Imokilly 0-13 Thanks to Michael O’Brien (Aghada), Vincent Cronin (Bride Rovers), Donal O’Keeffe (Lisgoold), Tom Harrington (Fr. O’Neill’s), Jerome O’Brien (Cloyne) and John Buckley (Glanmire) for their hard work and dedication. I am glad to see that for the year ahead, the Divisions have opted for a knock-out competition with one second chance, which also includes the two colleges, as I feel that this is a more manageable situation given the difficulties faced by Divisional teams due to the various claims on their players. I also think it is unfortunate that the managers of our Divisional teams so rarely have a full complement of players to choose from – especially in relation to football, where I have no doubt that we would experience a greater degree of success if all the eligible talented footballers in the Division were made available to us. Imokilly Juvenile Teams This year Bórd an Roinn Oirthear also had responsibility for organising underage representative teams under the new Coiste na nOg structures, and our thanks to the players, the clubs who made their players available , the parents, and of course the mentors who put such effort into these squads. U15 Hurling Report courtesy Mark Landers This team was prepared by Mark Landers, Fergal Condon, Tomas Abernethy and John Joe O'Regan. A panel of 30 players attended with 21 players seeing some game time. The competition was played on an extremely competitive Round Robin basis against Seandun and Avondhu, and Imokilly ran out winners on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-10 to claim the Dick Barrett shield. The team was captained by Gavin Bagnell of Midleton, and a number of this panel went on to represent their county in the Cork U15 Hurling Carrigdhoun and Clarecastle victories. Since this victory Fergal Condon and Mark Landers have contacted each club in the Imokilly division to find talent for the 2012 Munster Inter-divisional tournament and have rolled out the Cork Development Squads’ Physical Development Program which is being overseen by Liam O'Reilly and Colin Santry, two lead tutors from the Cork Development Squads every Friday night in St. Colman’s Community College. All club mentors who want to see this educational program are more than welcome to attend. U14 Hurling Report courtesy Anthony Connolly Anthony Connolly (Aghada), Aidan Swayne (Fr. O’Neill’s), Padraig Finn and Niall Cronin (Russell Rovers) took on this team. The squad came together 13 times during the year, and the first team won 3 out of 4 competitive games, while the second team won 3 out of 5. The second team reached the final in the hurling blitz in October only to be beaten by a strong Carbery side. The first team beat Seandún and lost to Avondhu, who went on to win the tournament. It was unfortunate that on the day two of the strongest members of the panel were unavailable due to club commitments. With over 40 players identified this year, it is to be hoped that more time can be spent training and playing games next year with this particular age group. U14 Football Report courtesy Brian Lotty This panel came under the care of Seán O Caoimh (Aghada), Kieran Cliffe (Youghal), Brian Lotty (Glanmire) and Jim O’Neill (Cloyne). Following a series of trial games, they played five challenge games, against Muskerry, Waterford, Carbery, Glanmire and Seandún, fielding two teams in some cases. A total of 73 players were involved, and 17 of these went on to represent Cork. They played in the Delanys tournament in June, defeating Avondhu but losing to Muskerry. All except one club sent players for trials during the Easter Holidays, and it is proposed that such trials should take place during the February mid-term break in 2012. The U14, U15 and U16 Football tournaments had not been played at the time of writing. Many thanks to all who looked after our Juvenile teams in 2011. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the officers of Coiste na nOg, an Regiún Lárnach and an Regiún Thoir for their help and co-operation during the year. East Cork Championships As always, this year’s championships were competitive and keenly contested, and it is a credit to all involved that all championship competitions are now complete, and that we met County Board deadlines in all competitions for the first time in a number of years. The Junior A Hurling Championship had a particularly dramatic conclusion this year, as the Final, between Dungourney and Carraig na bhFear, ended in a draw and the sides had to meet again. The replay was an historic occasion, as it was the first time our Junior A Hurling Final had been played under lights (in Carrigtwohill), and it was a tight affair, with the result in doubt right up until the final whistle when Dungourney finally claimed the Jamesy Kelleher Cup by the narrowest of margins, 0-18 to 1-14. History was also made in the Junior A Football Championship, as Glenbower Rovers won the title for the first time in their history, beating Lisgoold in the final on a scoreline of 0-16 to 0-6. Our Junior B Hurling and Football were the last competitions to finish this year. While one can take the view that there is no County deadline to meet in these, and therefore no pressure to finish them, surely we are doing justice neither to our players nor to our competitions by playing them so late in the year? There is also a financial aspect to be considered, as many of these games were played under lights and as they do not tend to attract large crowds, this obviously has a negative effect on the finances of the Board. We also had draws in both finals, with Midleton eventually emerging winners over St. Catherine’s in the Junior B Hurling Final Replay, while Youghal were victorious over Castlelyons at the second time of asking in the Junior B Football Final. The Junior C Hurling Championship continues to grow, with seven teams participating this year. Our thanks to the Foley family, Carraig na bhFear, who presented us with a cup for this competition in memory of the late Micheál.