The secrets that you keep

Meath GAA Co Committee delegates appear to be getting restless, if comments at the monthly meetings can be used as a gauge. Last week's meeting at Teach na Teamhrach seemed to push some of the delegates into the red zone (that's the area on the rev counter in your car that you are supposed to avoid). Frustration was the result. And the frustration is easy to understand. The delegates were seeking answers to questions that were not complicated. Some of the questions were of the simple YES or NO variety. Irish society appears to have a problem with a matter like that. It's not something exclusive to the officers of Meath Co Committee. Chairman Barney Allen appears to be almost handcuffed by regulations which eminate from either Leinster Council or Croke Park. However, if a poll, restricted to practising Meath Co Committee delegates, was carried out tomorrow with only one question posed - Are you happy with the way in which Meath Co Committee conducts it's business? I would confidently predict a majority of votes for NO. Again, going back to last week's meeting and the question posed by Simonstown Gaels delegate Gerry Fitzpatrick - "Can you read the letter that was submitted from Liam Harnan last week?" Initially, the chairman referred to an earlier letter that had been dealt with at a previous meeting. The chairman may have misunderstood the question, but the Simonstown delegate was persistent. He reminded the chairman that it wasn't about the first letter, it was the second letter. At that stage the chairman showed his ability to say NO to that request. But he then had to field other questions: "Why can you not let us hear the contents of the letter?" "What's the point of coming to meetings?" That second question is very pertinent. It wasn't answered and no further information was provided about an issue which could become known as 'Harnangate' if it is not resolved. Regarding the second question. The real reason that delegates go to monthly meetings is to ratify decisions of the management committee. Would the Co Committee management team be quite happy not to have to go through the monthly meetings anymore? It seems to be a waste of time for the dedicated delegates? Would it be a good idea if some delegate proposed, at the next meeting, that the monthly meetings should be scrapped? Now, you know quite well, that there will be some bye law that states a minimum number of Co Committee meetings must be convened annually. So the crux of the matter is, someone will have to propose a rule change for monthly meetings to be discontinued. I'm sure someone can arrange a motion for the next convention (only a few months away) and with some astute canvassing (which is not allowed) the motion will be carried. This would be the most sensible course of action because there is no point in delegates driving long, or short, journeys to Navan to sit at a meeting to make it look like they are being consulted, when it reality, they are told what they have to ratify. If, as the Co Committee chairman, claims, "my hands are tied" he will actually support such a motion as it will show that Meath delegates are not prepared to sit idly by and have someone else tell them what their opinion is. On to 'Harnangate' and this seems to be a much more serious issue. Apparently, there is some division amongst the members of the u-18 Committee. Resignations appear to be the norm at this stage. Harnan stepped down as u-16 football manager about two months ago and last week Paul Reilly followed suit from the minor hurling role. No one wants to talk about the reasons surrounding Harnan's departure. Twice the Meath Chronicle have asked the current Skryne manager for a comment and he has declined. The Co Committee chairman or the u-18 Committee chairman both declined to comment when contacted by the Meath Chronicle this week. Delegates appear to be concerned about the matter which appears to surround a request from the Moynalvey man for the appointment of a member of the current Management Committee, which I believe is Peter O'Halloran, as a liaison officer for the u-16 panel. Allegedly, the request was vetoed by the u-18 Committee. Understandably, delegates want to find out more. Also, last week, no discussion was allowed about the position of senior football manager although it has since emerged that selector Sean Kelly has stepped down. However, the the interviews for the role of minor football manager have been concluded, but once again, everyone is remaining tight-lipped. We believe there were four nominees which would have included outgoing manager Davy Dalton and Ratoath's Stan Gibney.