Overseas units set to play pivotal role

ANNUAL CONGRESS: Ian O'Riordanreports on how the 60 overseas delegates will have a major say on whether the experimental yellow-card rule is made permanent

DESPITE THE increasingly vocal support both for and against the experimental yellow-card rules it still seems the actual vote at this weekend’s GAA Congress in Cork could go either way.

One of the things that may well swing it, again either for or against, is the influence of the overseas vote – or, more specifically, of the seven overseas units of the GAA.

They will have roughly 60 of the expected 330 delegates in attendance at the Rochestown Park Hotel in Douglas, thus accounting for almost 20 per cent of Saturday’s vote. As the experimental rules need a two-thirds majority in order to become permanent, whatever way the overseas units vote will have an obvious bearing.

However, instead of coming with their minds made up, it’s more a case of these overseas delegates coming with an open mind. As is part of congress tradition, they will meet separately in Cork later this afternoon to discuss amongst themselves the issues they feel they’ll need to address, and how they should address them as a unit – and the experimental yellow-card rules are an obvious priority.

According to John Gormley, president of the provincial council of Britain, the matter has so far been left up to the various county delegates within the unit. Britain will have around 30 delegates in attendance, representing the seven county boards in the provincial council, including Scotland: “At the moment nothing has been decided for sure,” says Gormley. “Each of the counties here has seen the presentation of Liam O’Neill and Pat Daly. They came over to present them a couple of weeks ago.

“But they haven’t yet made up their mind, and I couldn’t honestly tell you what the feeling is. I wouldn’t say there is a definite for or against at this stage. I know some people are in favour of it and others aren’t.

“But then they wouldn’t have much experience of these new rules either, because there aren’t any competitions going on in Britain at the moment where they are being applied. So far these rules have only been tried in the national leagues, and the subsidiary competitions in the provinces.”

Joe Lydon, secretary of the North American Board, and based in Boston, says this afternoon’s meeting between all the overseas units will most likely influence what way their vote will go.

“We’re referring the matter to the meeting with the other overseas units,” he says, “and then on to congress. Whatever they decide at congress is what we’ll abide by.”

The suggestion has been made that the overseas units wouldn’t be in favour of the new rules given the added pressure they would place on resources, given the new provision for six substitutes – but Lydon wasn’t so sure.

“I think what you’ll find with all overseas units is that we’re adaptable. We just suggest what it is we have to adjust to. It’s just it can be hard for us, when the game is spread 3,000 miles across the country.

“But it’s a different game in America anyway. It’s only 13-aside, not 15-aside. So that’s what we have to look it. But that’s GAA democracy at work. Everyone has their say, and after the say is said, everyone has to live with the decision. So we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

The 60 or so overseas delegates in attendance at congress will represent the North American Board, the Asian County Board, Australasia, Britain, Canada, the European County Board, and the New York Board. Clearly then the overseas vote may well swing these rules either way – in that if they do support them en masse then they may well go through, but if they don’t, they will almost certainly fail to reach the two-thirds majority.

In the meantime, the number of home counties making up their mind ahead of congress continues. The Galway, Wicklow and Waterford county boards voted to oppose permanent introduction of the rules ahead on congress at meetings on Tuesday night, while in contrast, Kildare voted in favour of giving the rules their backing.

Elsewhere, Leinster champions Dublin and provincial rivals Louth will officially open the Carton House Training Facility tomorrow evening when they meet in a senior football challenge, throw-in 7pm. Carton House Hotel, situated in Maynooth, has recently completed work on a multi-purpose training facility aimed at attracting top-class sports teams across all sports. The training facility hosts two full-size soccer pitches, two full-size rugby pitches, and a GAA pitch of equal dimensions to Croke Park.

“After viewing the training facilities down at Carton House, I was left with no doubt in my mind that the facility is a first-class venue,” says Dublin manager Pat Gilroy. “It certainly ticks all the necessary boxes regarding a venue for training camps. We plan to host training camps in Carton House throughout the championship this year and are fully confident that the facility will deliver on all fronts.”

Tickets for the match will be available at the two main entry points into Carton House. Admission will be €10 for adults, €5 for students/OAPs with under-16s being admitted free.