An Chomhdháil Bhliantúil 2016 2015 Tuarascáil an Ard Stiúrthóra 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 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. 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 4 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. But the games attendances that we celebrate above. opposite direction.” themselves must also be attractive, 5 Tuarascáil An Ard Stiúrthóra 28 February 2015; Delegates, including Australia, during the GAA Annual Congress 2015. Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan. Congress 2015 The Minor Review Committee made which encourages participation. The significant progress, too, in their step- possibility, therefore, of re-structuring While Congress 2015 was generally by-step efforts to address player-welfare the Congress schedule to allow delegates described as ‘quiet’, it nonetheless concerns by persuading Congress to to attend two of these sessions is passed a number of significant motions amend the rule governing age grades. worth considering. A mechanism for as it considered the reports of the As a result, from January 2016 players effectively reporting the main issues Hurling 20/20 and the Minor Review must be over 17 years to play at adult to emerge at these sessions to the full committees. While both reports club level and over 16 years to play in the Congress could usefully be developed. contained recommendations that fell U-21 grade with clubs. This amendment, within the remit of Central Council for along with the rule change that came In terms of the full Congress assembly, it decision, the focus at Congress was on into effect in January 2015 limiting is difficult to know how it might be made proposals that required a change of rule. participation at inter-county minor more participative. A lot of good work is In terms of the Hurling 20/20 committee, level to players over 16 years of age, is done each year on rule amendments that this meant, primarily, the playing rules, evidence of the growing awareness of is necessary and productive. It is in the and Congress passed its motion that only the need to protect the young talented very nature of many of the proposals that one defending player may stand on the player. There is still much to be done to seek to amend rules (as from the Rules goal-line to defend a penalty puck. It also protect those players from the dangers Advisory Committee) that the benefits decided that, for free pucks awarded on of overtraining and burnout, but these are obvious and non-controversial, and the centre point of the 20 metre line and were, nonetheless, significant changes. thus unlikely to generate much debate. on the semi-circular arc, no more than For delegates, such deliberations can be five defending players could stand on the The passing of nineteen motions that a tedious (if necessary) part of Congress. goal-line. Congress also supported the brought further clarity to our rules was In each of the past three years we have Hurling 20/20 proposal to introduce the a reflection of the importance of the organised a pre-Congress briefing for advantage rule into hurling, and opted ongoing work of the Rules Advisory key county officers on the motions to for automatic promotion of the winners Committee as a standing committee ensure that delegates understand the of the Christy Ring Cup to the following on the rules of the Association, details of all the motions before them. year’s Provincial Qualifier group. The while the decisions of Congress And with the Finance and Ard Stiúrthóir’s implementation of the changes to playing in addressing concerns about the reports available to units and to the rules has gone smoothly and has been to proposed clock/hooter system, the public well in advance of Congress, the benefit of the game. The penalty puck closed months for collective training much informal debate will already has become an exciting feature of the and the registration of teams for senior have taken place on issues raised. game, with goalkeepers faring better than inter-county championship games had been predicted, while, as in football, were sensible and commendable.