An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2016 2015 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra Agus Cuntais Airgid
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An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2016 2015 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra agus Cuntais Airgid GAA Annual Congress www.gaa.ie 10 January 2015; Former Waterford hurler Paul Flynn, in his role of umpire for the day, chats with young supporters during a break in play. Waterford Crystal Cup Preliminary Round, Cork v University of Limerick, CIT GAA Grounds, Bishopstown, Co. Cork. Annual Congress 2015 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra agus Cuntais Airgid 20 September 2015; James McCarthy, Dublin, is tackled by Colm Cooper, Kerry. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final, Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, Dublin. 22 November 2015; Mike Casey, Na Piarsaigh, in action against JJ Hutchinson, Ballygunner. AIB Munster GAA Senior Club Hurl- ing Championship Final, Ballygunner v Na Piarsaigh. Semple Stadium, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. FULL PAGE IMAGE Contents At a Glance 5 An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil: Congress 2016 7 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra 8 Senior Hurling Championship Review 2015 51 Senior Football Championship Review 2015 61 Results and Financial Highlights 71 Time to Celebrate 72 GAA Final Results in 2015 74 Club, at the heart of it all 77 County Champions 2015 81 Championship Attendances 2015 84 GAA All-Ireland Football Senior Championship Results 86 GAA All-Ireland Hurling Senior Championship Results 87 Financial Highlights 88 Clubs Affiliated in 2015 93 Allocation of Tickets for All-Ireland Finals 2015 97 Financial Statements 101 At a glance 2,028 Affiliated GAA clubs playing our games 411 International clubs affiliated to the Association 1,475,949 Supporters attending 2015 Inter-County football and hurling championship games 102,384 Children participating in Kellogg’s GAA Cúl Camps 400,000 Followers of official GAA facebook and Twitter 3.4 million Minutes watched on the official GAA YouTube channel 5 4 January 2015; Supporters look on during the game. FBD League, Section A, Round 1, NUI Galway v Mayo. Elverys MacHale Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo. FULL PAGE IMAGE An Clár An Chomhdháil Standing Orders Bhliantúil 2016 In order that the proceedings of Annual Congress be carried out without delay, the following Standing Orders will be observed: An Aoine, 26 Feabhra 2016 1. The Proposer of a Resolution or 7. A speaker to the Ard Stiúrthóir’s 2.00pm Registration for all of an Amendment thereto may Report/Workshop reports or to Congress delegates speak for five minutes, but not any other general discussion more than shall 4.00pm Workshops/Ard five minutes. not exceed three minutes on any Chomhairle meeting one topic. 2. A delegate speaking to a Resolu- 6.15pm Tea tion or of an Amendment must 8. Any motion seeking to amend not exceed three minutes. A a rule in the Official Guide must 8.00pm Opening of Congress maximum of two delegates from have a majority equal to two- (Adoption of Minutes any one County shall speak on thirds of those present, entitled & Standing Orders) any one motion. to vote and voting. 8.15pm Ard-Stiúrthóir’s Report 3. The Proposer of a Resolution 9. Standing Orders shall not be or an Amendment may speak a suspended for the purpose of 8.45pm Adoption of Accounts Adoption of Insurance second time for three minutes considering any matter on the and injury scheme accounts before a vote is taken, but no Agenda except by the consent other Delegate may speak a sec- of a majority equal to two-thirds 9.15pm Consideration of motions ond time to the same Resolution of those present, entitled to vote or Amendment. and voting. 10.00pm Congress adjourns 4. The Chairman may at any time 10. The Chairman may change the he considers a matter has been order of items on the agenda An Satharn, 27 Feabhra 2016 sufficiently discussed, call on the with the support of a simple ma- 10.00am Resumption of Congress - Proposer for a reply, and when jority of those present, entitled Consideration of motions that has been given a vote must to vote and voting. be taken. 12.30pm Óráid an Uachtaráin 5. A delegate may, with the consent 1.00pm Lón of the Chairman, move “that the question be now put”, after 2.00pm Resumption of Congress – which, when the Proposer has Youth Forum Report to spoken, Congress a vote must be taken. 2.20pm Consideration of 6. Where the Congress considers it remaining Motions appropriate, a vote may be by secret ballot. 5.00pm Conclusion of Congress 5.05pm Ard Chomhairle meeting 6.30pm Mass 8.00pm Congress Banquet 7 Tuarascáil An Ard Stiúrthóra Report of the Ard Stiúrthóir Páraic Ó Dufaigh Introduction unbearable or even insulting, that raises them to levels of performance that Hurling championships in recent years other teams cannot match. (Brian Cody had dazzled us with their brilliance, so it probably knows what this is!). Their was to be expected that the first year of a cumulative achievements have been return to more normal competition would exceptional, and Gaelic games followers slightly lessen the excitement levels. are right to be proud of such brilliant For all that, there were two remarkable sportsmen. It was wholly fitting, then, features of the 2015 championship. that the elegant skills of TJ Reid won for One was the unexpectedly rapid rise of him the award of Player of the Year. Waterford, who followed their fine Allianz League title with a pulsating charge in The football championship gave us an “ What is one to say about Kilkenny? the championship. They deserved the absolutely absorbing final. The carping They not only defeated all-comers admiration they received; their skilful and of a few who lamented the absence of to win another championship, but relentless hurling gave lie to the received silky summer skills surely missed the they defeat one’s ability to say wisdom that it takes years to build a point: the awful weather conditions anything new or original about team fit to challenge for national titles. determined that this was to be a contest their achievements.” We look forward to the continuation of attrition. There was never a stage of Waterford’s campaign in 2016. where the match did not seem ready to tip in an unpredictable way: a funny What is one to say about Kilkenny? bounce, or a slip of hand or foot near They not only defeated all-comers to goal, could have turned the direction of win another championship, but they the game in the opposite direction. But defeat one’s ability to say anything new Dublin deserved their victory, as they or original about their achievements. deserve great credit for a third title in Gaelic games may well be amateur, but five years. We must congratulate Jim we all know the intensity that teams Gavin who has managed Dublin to two bring to their hurling, so it is a genuinely of these titles, and Jack McCaffrey who extraordinary fact that Kilkenny continue won the Player of the Year award. to find the means to stay ahead of their rivals, almost year after year. It is exactly Elsewhere on the playing fields, we this latter fact – that they continue to salute the two winners of the U-21 dominate hurling after so many years – championships, Limerick in hurling that is so remarkable. Kilkenny hurlers and Tyrone in football, as we do the never become blasé or complacent; winners of the minor championships, winning one year never diminishes their Galway in hurling and Kerry in football. hunger to win the next year. They have And in the ferociously contested club excellent hurlers, of course, but so do (and championships, where Gaelic games, did, over the years) other counties. There and indeed the Association itself, are is something in Kilkenny hurling, beyond visible in their most vibrant and relevant the great players, tradition, county condition, we applaud the All-Ireland pride or match tactics, something to do championship winners of Corofin with resilience, with a mental attitude (senior football), Ballyhale Shamrocks that finds defeat incomprehensible, (senior hurling), Ardfert (intermediate 8 Tuarascáil An Ard Stiúrthóra 20 September 2015; Dublin’s Paul Flynn lifts the Sam Maguire cup after their win in the GAA All-Ireland Senior Championship final. football), O’Donovan Rossa (intermediate and,despite the reservations expressed hurling), Brosna (junior football) and about modern Gaelic football, there Bennettsbridge (junior hurling). continues to be great loyalty to one’s county in inter-county competitions. The International Rules returned to Dublin in November for a one-match Series, There is, however, a feature of the wider which allowed us to see that, when both context of Gaelic football that does cause countries field their best players, the concern. A significant number of counties Series easily justifies its continuation. do not have the financial resources, Those who attended the match seemed either from commercial income and/or to share the opinion that it whetted the through their fundraising capacity, to be appetite for a second match, especially serious contenders to win an All-Ireland as the Australians were seen to improve title. This is becoming a permanent considerably as the game progressed. structural imbalance in competitiveness which, when combined with the It is gratifying to record that attendances unequal population distribution over “ There was never a stage where for both leagues and championships counties, reduces potential All-Ireland the match did not seem ready remained strong. Competition for winners to a relatively few counties. to tip in an unpredictable way: a spectator patronage is intense, from This has to be a matter of concern, funny bounce, or a slip of hand or inside and outside sport, and we particularly if we want the championship foot near goal could have turned must now promote our competitions to continue to draw the strong the direction of the game in the vigorously every year.