An Chomdhail Bhliantúil 2012 Tuarascáil Bhliaintúil An Runaí A Chairde, The past season has witnessed the helped to maintain government support Counties failure to win frontline for staffing costs for 2011 and 2012. Sometimes it is better to have a vision championships but Donegal did win for the future than to rely on our the Allianz Football League Division The stewards, team officials and members current or historic past. While all are 2 title as well as reaching the All- of Comhairle Uladh give an enormous important and we cannot choose to Ireland semi final where they could amount of time to act in many capacities operate with indifference to who we have succeeded against the eventual such as stiles men, stewards, counters are, where we came from or where we winners Dublin. Crossmaglen Rangers and supervisors throughout the year. We want to go and to this end we need to returned to All-Ireland Championship could not do without this outstanding input be confident of what we have achieved success and Lisnakea Emmetts also by a great team. We are also indebted to and more importantly be confident of emulated their success by winning the our staff, who have given generously of our future, of our communities and All-Ireland Intermediate title. The ladies their time in working and in a voluntary above all the inherent ability of our of Lisnaskea won the female equivalent capacity within the management and people to build a future worthy of while Sperrin Óg won the All-Ireland control of games and are actively involved the land of Saints and Scholars. We Junior title. In camogie, Eoghan Rua in the delivery of key elements of the are living in continuing challenging Coleraine collected the All-Ireland championship programme. We are also times but rather than looking back Intermediate Club Championship. St. indebted to An Cisteoir, Micheal Ó hOsain, to what might have been let us look Colman’s College retained the Hogan who gives generously of his time to the forward to establishing community Cup and the performance of our schools wider benefit of Comhairle Uladh and and personal confidence that we can and colleges have been encouraging provides the necessary support and do better, be stronger and above all for the future. Furthermore, Donegal leadership in managing all aspects of our fairer to the society in which we abide. collected the All-Ireland Vocational financial matters and for which we are We need to sustain our industry and Schools title. In hurling, there were deeply grateful to him including his work try to retain the generation of skilled successes for Donegal in the Lory as Chairman of Coiste Airgeadas. We young men and women who are Meagher Cup, Tyrone in the Allianz also acknowledge the input of Proinsias emigrating in substantial numbers to Hurling League Division 4 and St Patricks MacGabhan as Runai of the Committee and the detriment of the Country and its’ Maghera collected the O’Keefe Cup. the members of the Committee for their ability to generate employment and help and active support for the work of wealth. The future is in our hands Finance the Council. I would also want to place on and we must encourage our society, The economic climate in 2011 has record our appreciation of Michelle McAleer our community and membership continued to have an affect on the who has ensured our financial governance that we can rebuild the confidence council in its progress at delivering is excellent and for her dedication and of our people in their own ability to programmes and offering support to its commitment far beyond the call of duty. establish a new society based on trust, constituent units. There remains to be a respect and responsibility. We need to vast amount of investment in club and Comhairle Uladh finances are still encourage our best people to become coaching development but this is restricted dependant on the level of support for leaders in society by ensuring that they due to a decrease in our championship our games programme, from external are valued and supported. We have gates. The council endeavour to find a sources and from the Association many challenges ahead but provided suitable pricing structure, through various in the delivery of several aspects of we apply a proper attitude to all based initiatives, to encourage supporters out our Strategic Plan. The total income on respect, rights and responsibilities to our games. This has been evident in amounted to €4,936,972 inclusive of in equal measure then we will ensure a an increase other competition revenue. all grants. Our gate income €1,193,905 society that we need and deserve and Ulster GAA received a rigorous governance represented 24% of this compared to committed to the idealism that has and controls audit from consultants 27% of the total income in 2010. In 2011 been the driving force to the GAA since employed by Sport NI and a satisfactory our grant income, €1,160,534 represents our foundation. assurance level was achieved which has 24% of our total in comparison to 22% 30 Chomhairle Uladh CLG Ulster Council GAA 31 Annual Convention 2012 An Chomdhail Bhliantúil 2012 in 2010. The expenditure amounted to Annual Provincial Fixtures Seminar week later, a first half onslaught by the €4,821,924. In addition, the investment highlights the huge number of games Doíre attack led by Eoin Bradley, laid the in Grounds and Infrastructure amounted played in Ulster. In 2011, this amounted foundations for a comprehensive 1-18 to €100,000. There was an operating to 16,919 games in both codes at youth 1-10 victory over Fear Manach at Celtic surplus on the years working equating to and adult level, with significantly more Park. The following Saturday night, at the €14,648. The monies from Ard Comhairle hurling games taking place at youth level Morgan Athletic Grounds, Ard Mhacha have also assisted in achieving our which is encouraging. I would like to take defeated neighbours An Dún on a 1-15 objectives but we need to be mindful that this opportunity to commend all those to 1-10 scoreline. A first half goal from we are working to the interests of our involved in fixture making in their roles Brian McGuigan was effectively the Association in difficult economic times. on the Competitions Control Committee difference in Healy Park eight days later, in their respective counties. as Tír Eoghain withstood a late fightback Games Activity from Muineachán to record a 1-13 to In 2011, the Anglo Celt Cup returned Dún na nGall were our only 1-11 victory. In the last quarter final, to Dún na nGall after a nineteen year representatives in the National Football goals from Patrick McBrearty and Rory absence, breaking the recent dominance League Finals, as they successfully Kavanagh helped Dún na nGall defeat of Ard Mhacha and Tír Eoghain in the defeated Laois in the Division 2 decider. An Cabhán by 2-14 to 1-08 at Kingspan Senior Football Championship. Aontroim With regard to hurling, I must commend Breffni Park. Both semi finals were both again retained the Liam Harvey Cup, Tír Eoghain for their success in the staged at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones and albeit the re-emergence of Ard Mhacha National Hurling League Division 4, on Sunday 19th June, Dóire blitzed Ard to the Ulster Senior Hurling Final was while Doíre were again unfortunately Mhacha in a resounding 3-14 to 1-11 a welcome addition. The Ulster Club defeated in the Division 3A Final, this success with Conleith Gilligan and Eoin Championships returned to two familiar time by Cill Mhaintáin. Pride of place on Bradley in sparkling form. The following homes. Crossmaglen Rangers and the National stage in hurling must go week, Dún na nGall defeated Tír Eoghain Loughgiel Shamrocks both completed to Dún na nGall who collected the Lory in a tighter affair with a last minute goal back to back successes in their respective Meagher Cup by defeating Tír Eoghain from Dermot Molloy proving to be the codes. The attendances at our Ulster Club in a highly entertaining final. Such a difference in a 2-06 to 0-09 victory. Championships continued to rise and we success highlights the dedication of this experienced the largest attendance at an group as they had failed at the final stage The Ulster Final took place three weeks men on their way to a 1-11 to 0-08 In the next round two weeks later, all defeated An Dún by 2-20 to 0-14 on Ulster Senior Football Club Final in quite in both 2009 to Tír Eoghain and 2010 to later where Dún na nGall and Doíre met victory. The scenes of jubilation at the Ulster teams remained in the race for Sam an extremely disappointing day for some time when Crossmaglen defeated Longfort. Congratulations to all involved. at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones on Sunday final whistle epitomised the importance Maguire. Aontroim defeated Ceathearlach the Mournemen. Tír Eoghain and Ard Burren at the recently refurbished 17th July. Over 27,000 spectators that counties place on an Ulster title. at Casement Park, An Dún defeated Mhacha squared up to one another in a Morgan Athletic Grounds. In our first competition of the year, the attended the Final on a day when the Congratulations go to Dún na nGall for a Liatroim at Pairc Esler while Tír Eoghain great game. Goals from Joe McMahon Dr McKenna Cup, Doíre collected the Ulster Senior Football Champions well deserved success. won away to Longfort. Ard Mhacha drew and Tommy McGuigan were crucial as At club level, there were again five title by defeating Tír Eoghain by 2-12 to from 25 years previous, Tír Eoghain with Cill Mhantáin after extra time in a they ran out 2-13 to 0-13 winners in divisions in the Ulster Senior Hurling 2-11 in a highly entertaining final at the were honoured.