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Messages - Downtheroad

#166
Laois / Re: Club transfers
June 12, 2016, 01:50:37 PM
John O'Loughlin transferring to Portlaoise is doing the rounds for ages. It may happen but I don't see it happening this year. As far as I know he is still playing with St Brigids and I imagine he played in the 1st round of the Dublin SFC. if that's the case, he will be ineligible for local championship. Whatever about Mountmellick, I reckon other clubs will be peeved if he heads to the town.
#167
Laois / Re: All-Ireland Football Qualifiers 2016
June 11, 2016, 12:33:06 AM
I think this thread should give the GAA authorities food for thought but I doubt it. The organisation has been captured by a combination of big business and bureaucracy and has been taken away from the ordinary supporter and member. Effectively the GAA mirrors how the country is run. On one hand we have the elected officials who give the impression of an organisation representing the grassroots. Similar to the government they are ultimately passing through and mainly serve the coterie of permanent professional staff who effectively run the organisation.

I have stopped going to inter county matches as I'm disillusioned by the futility of it all. Nothing grates me more than seeing the corporate crowd in Croke Park while the ordinary punter has to pay the full whack for everything. Over the years, I have had dealings with the permanent paid officials of the GAA and I have found that in the main club members are treated with contempt like children of a lesser god. All you get is patronising nonsense of what a great organisation we belong to. None of these officials seem to be listening or even care. In fact, I get the distinct impression that paid officials are laughing at the idiots that are cutting the grass and lining fields for nothing up and down the country.

The days of the idiots lining the fields are numbered if going around the country is anything to go by. The volunteers are disappearing fast and who can blame them.  As a GAA person first and foremost, it pains me to say the GAA is in terminal decline in small counties such as Laois. The treatment of the county over the past year is evidence that we no longer matter.
#168
Another walkover last night in Division 3A which has turned into a farce. I imagine we will have a few walkovers in all leagues with the Euros as most clubs will be down players over the next fortnight.
#169
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
June 02, 2016, 11:47:08 PM
Quote from: Downtheroad on June 02, 2016, 11:39:44 PM
Quote from: Downtheroad on May 26, 2016, 01:17:27 PM
€1500 is many ways the starting point. If I'm not mistaken, the DRA is like the courts where a party could get caught for costs if they lose. On a strict interpretation of the rule, Portlaoise shouldn't win but I know of a prominent Portlaoise member  who likes to remind ordinary mortals that Portlaoise don't lose DRA cases.  The reality is that a razor sharp legal mind could drive a bus through the official guide and local byelaws. Over the years, our local Co Board has often tried to use its discretion in granting contentious transfers in what look like hardship cases. While this is well meaning, the problem with discretion is that it leads to precedent and precedent is what is used by the lawyers to undermine the decisions made. I imagine if Portlaoise win, we might as well throw out the byelaws which were approved by Croke Park in the first instance.
Here is the preliminary report on website:   This was an application against a decision by the respondents to refuse a transfer of the applicant to Portlaoise GAA club. The application was successful and the transfer sanctioned with immediate effect. The DRA Tribunal chaired by Colm O'Rourke (with legal members David Nohilly and Arran Dowling Hussey) reached a majority verdict and held that, although the respondents at all times acted fairly towards the claimant, the application should nevertheless be deemed successful on the ground that there was an anomaly and ambiguity in the existing Laois bye-laws relating to transfers within the Portlaoise catchment area. The Tribunal further directed that the Laois County Board, through their county committee and convention and usual procedures, work to provide clarity or amend this aspect of their transfer byelaws. Pending that clarification/amendment, this DRA decision is not to be treated as a precedent and is distinguished to its facts. The full written award will follow by the end of the month.
This is an example of the bus been driven through the  byelaws. Nevertheless I await the full decision before commenting further on the facts of the case.
#170
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
June 02, 2016, 11:39:44 PM
Quote from: Downtheroad on May 26, 2016, 01:17:27 PM
€1500 is many ways the starting point. If I'm not mistaken, the DRA is like the courts where a party could get caught for costs if they lose. On a strict interpretation of the rule, Portlaoise shouldn't win but I know of a prominent Portlaoise member  who likes to remind ordinary mortals that Portlaoise don't lose DRA cases.  The reality is that a razor sharp legal mind could drive a bus through the official guide and local byelaws. Over the years, our local Co Board has often tried to use its discretion in granting contentious transfers in what look like hardship cases. While this is well meaning, the problem with discretion is that it leads to precedent and precedent is what is used by the lawyers to undermine the decisions made. I imagine if Portlaoise win, we might as well throw out the byelaws which were approved by Croke Park in the first instance.
Here is the preliminary report on website:   This was an application against a decision by the respondents to refuse a transfer of the applicant to Portlaoise GAA club. The application was successful and the transfer sanctioned with immediate effect. The DRA Tribunal chaired by Colm O'Rourke (with legal members David Nohilly and Arran Dowling Hussey) reached a majority verdict and held that, although the respondents at all times acted fairly towards the claimant, the application should nevertheless be deemed successful on the ground that there was an anomaly and ambiguity in the existing Laois bye-laws relating to transfers within the Portlaoise catchment area. The Tribunal further directed that the Laois County Board, through their county committee and convention and usual procedures, work to provide clarity or amend this aspect of their transfer byelaws. Pending that clarification/amendment, this DRA decision is not to be treated as a precedent and is distinguished to its facts. The full written award will follow by the end of the month.
#171
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
May 26, 2016, 05:23:04 PM
Quote from: Dave like the tv channel on May 26, 2016, 03:32:24 PM
Quote from: Downtheroad on May 26, 2016, 01:17:27 PM
€1500 is many ways the starting point. If I'm not mistaken, the DRA is like the courts where a party could get caught for costs if they lose. On a strict interpretation of the rule, Portlaoise shouldn't win but I know of a prominent Portlaoise member  who likes to remind ordinary mortals that Portlaoise don't lose DRA cases.  The reality is that a razor sharp legal mind could drive a bus through the official guide and local byelaws. Over the years, our local Co Board has often tried to use its discretion in granting contentious transfers in what look like hardship cases. While this is well meaning, the problem with discretion is that it leads to precedent and precedent is what is used by the lawyers to undermine the decisions made. I imagine if Portlaoise win, we might as well throw out the byelaws which were approved by Croke Park in the first instance.

Are the results published? Are decisions made on the night of the case?
Try the following http://www.sportsdra.ie/ Usually there is some delay before decisions appear on website.
#172
I was looking at the Division 1B table which shows a very competitive league. Even at this stage , most teams could either top division or be relegated. If anything, this reflects the benefit of 8 teams which reduces dead rubber games.  As regards Division 1A, what is going on with Portarlington?   
#173
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
May 26, 2016, 01:17:27 PM
€1500 is many ways the starting point. If I'm not mistaken, the DRA is like the courts where a party could get caught for costs if they lose. On a strict interpretation of the rule, Portlaoise shouldn't win but I know of a prominent Portlaoise member  who likes to remind ordinary mortals that Portlaoise don't lose DRA cases.  The reality is that a razor sharp legal mind could drive a bus through the official guide and local byelaws. Over the years, our local Co Board has often tried to use its discretion in granting contentious transfers in what look like hardship cases. While this is well meaning, the problem with discretion is that it leads to precedent and precedent is what is used by the lawyers to undermine the decisions made. I imagine if Portlaoise win, we might as well throw out the byelaws which were approved by Croke Park in the first instance.

#174
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
May 22, 2016, 10:56:18 PM
Clonad had a handful of players and looked to join up with neighbouring clubs who turned them down. In the end, Portlaoise took them in. Technically, it could be argued that they were issues with the constitution of the Portlaoise u16 hurling team in 2015 but no one challenged it.
#175
Laois / Re: Leinster Minor Football Championship
May 21, 2016, 09:43:41 PM
Laois advance to Semi final while the Dubs were trounced by Meath. This opens up the possibility of an extended run for this year's team.
#176
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
May 21, 2016, 06:44:37 PM
How to manage the development of football/Hurling in Portlaoise is at this stage an almost intractable challenge. The Kilminchy experiment a few years back was a miserable failure and there is no reason why another start up club will succeed. I imagine one of the main reasons why Kilminchy failed was lack of help on the ground something that is in the case with the majority of clubs I know. If Portlaoise GAA did not split over the move to Rathleague  then it will never split and the prospect of a new club that could challenge the town is a pipedream. To counterbalance Portlaoise, the Co Board needs to stand full square behind The Heath, Ratheniska and Clonad in order to protect them from losing players. If Portlaoise win DRA case, it's likely to be game over for the other clubs in the catchment area. At the beginning of this year, Clonad had a very promising u12 team which has been decimated due to transfers to the town and i'm reliably informed are now the best players on Portlaoise team. This is an example of the so called "Parentage rule" favouring the stronger clubs rather than weaker clubs which many people had originally envisaged.
#177
Mountmellick Gaels is Mountmellick plus Brendan Reddin. Because Castletown put in a junior team, Mountmellick had to go down the route. No one else is coming from Castletown as far as I know,  But the point is well made. A proper area amalgamation involving a Senior club  will not be a runner in the long run if 17 players have to be named.   
#178
Laois / Re: Portlaoise GAA vs Laois County Board
May 19, 2016, 12:02:12 AM
This partly goes back to a row a few years back between Portlaoise and some of its neighbouring clubs principally Ballyfin over players playing with the town club even though technically lived outside the parish of Portlaoise. In fairness some of the  player's families came from outside the county, moved to Portlaoise urban area and then discovered they lived outside the parish boundary. There were also issues around players moving from the Heath, Park/R and Clonad to Portlaoise. In order to sort out the issue, the county board called in the clubs involved which resulted in Portlaoise giving some sort of commitment not to poach players from neighbouring clubs. I suppose now that they have got rid of the debt they are beginning to flex their muscles with the County Board. I'm practically certain that they will win their case based on the "sibling" rule.  I think, whether people like it or not, parish rule is on its last legs as it's not fit for purpose in a modern secular society. All it will take is a parent with a few quid behind them to fully test the rules in a civil court.   
#179
Have to feel some sympathy for Kilcavan and Barrowhouse who are first teams who no doubt are preparing properly for the championship. Most of the other teams are not pushed at what happens as it is either their 2nd or 3rd team. It's a farce but it is hard to know what to do to address the issue other than fining clubs for non participation. If you want to look up another farce have a peep at the Laois Minor B hurling league for the current year.
#180
Laois / Re: Divisional teams in the Laois SFC
January 29, 2016, 09:46:52 PM
AFAIK Ballyfin are going with Slieve Bloom for Football. That's the only one I heard.