`Too many grounds developed in Ulster'

The Ulster Council of the GAA was yesterday urged to rethink its policy on the development of county grounds. Tyrone chairman Paul Doris, who was re-elected at the county convention in Derrytresk, questioned the wisdom of investment in major ground development schemes when all the major games are currently being switched to Clones.

"There would appear to be little point in providing facilities for 20,000 people if games are going to be transferred to Clones," he said.

A highly-rated coaching scheme in Belfast for primary schoolchildren in Gaelic football, hurling and camogie will end in March, the Antrim convention was told. It has been funded at £300,000 over the three years and involved over 40 schools, many in deprived areas of the city. Every effort is being made to have it restored.

County chairman Joe O'Boyle also told the delegates that the reconstruction of Casement Park is expected to start in the early summer costing £2.2 million.

County secretary Eamonn McMahon said that if the All-Ireland hurling championship is to be changed it should operate as an open draw.

The GAA will have to get more television coverage for Gaelic games, even if it has to pay for it. That was the suggestion from Kilkenny County Board chairman, John Healy, when he delivered his address to annual convention yesterday. He felt this course of action was necessary to counteract the influx of other sports on television.

Kilkenny will soon appoint their first full-time official, Healy said.

A top Tipperary GAA administrator claimed yesterday that local championships were jeopardised last year because of the number of free weekends given to successful county teams and the involvement of key players with them.

Jimmy Keating, chairman of the South Tipperary Board, told delegates to the 91st convention in Clonmel that 16 weekends were lost in a long and arduous championship season through Tipperary's participation in the Munster and All-Ireland championships.