Clare Ladies Football Board Press Release: 11/01/2007 The Clare Ladies Gaelic Football Board AGM will take place at the West County Hotel on Tuesday 16th, January, 2007 at 7.30pm sharp. In his address to the AGM outgoing chairman James Lafferty is expected to refer to a very successful year for Clare Ladies Football on many fronts. High points of the past year that he will refer to will include the rejuvenation of the county flagship team which saw the Clare ladies secure Suzuki Division Three National League honours and Munster Junior Championship success. James will also refer to the successful year that the county U-14 team had winning national honours in the inaugural All Ireland B Championship and All Ireland Division Two Blitz Championship. At U-14 level the banner ladies Club of Ennis also secured the prestigious National Féile Division One title as well as the All Ireland Club Sevens U-14 title. On the domestic front Cooraclare and Coolmeen did well in their respective Munster championship campaigns following their Clare County Championship victories over the Banner and Kilmihil respectively. Indeed Coolmeen went within a whisker of winning Munster Junior honours while injury ridden Cooraclare were unfortunate to suffer a heavy defeat to eventual All Ireland champions Inch Rovers of Cork in the Munster Intermediate final. James will also refer to the success of the county U-12 development squad who won the Division Two section of the Michael Cullinan inter-county tournament hosted in Clare in September. The Clare girls had resounding victories over Down, Galway and Laois and their only defeat was a narrow one to overall winners Kerry. There was disappointment however in the poor performances of the county's minor and U-16 teams and the outgoing chair is expected to announce initiatives in this area to secure an improvement at these grades for the 2007 season. James is expected to refer to the tardiness of some clubs in completing domestic fixtures in 2006 with the senior leagues especially running way behind schedule. Some underage competitions were also beleaguered by teams withdrawing and giving walkovers and this is an area that will have to be improved upon in 2007. Outgoing secretary Michael Fitzpatrick is also expected to give an upbeat address though he is expected to refer to the predominance of certain clubs at underage levels as being unhealthy for the overall game in Clare. Outgoing treasurer Christy O'Connor is expected to show the Board's finances in a reasonably healthy state - aided by a record county final gate, successful church gate collections and significant sponsorship from the Martin Donnelly Group and the ATD Group. The main talking point in advance of the AGM is however the challenge to James Lafferty's chairmanship by Cooraclare Club nominee John Fennell. John has an enviable record in Clare ladies football circles being part of the most successful Clare county senior management team and also overseeing Cooraclare's march to victory in the Clare senior championship in 2006. Lafferty and Fennel are known to be keen rivals given the former's association with the St. Joseph's Ladies Club of Miltown (who controversially dethroned Cooraclare in the 2005 county championship). While Lafferty will point to his successful year in charge in 2006 many will appreciate Fennel's organisational and motivational skills especially with his national and international success in organising the very successful Hell For Leather Irish dance troupe. Fennel is expected to get much support from the West Clare area while Lafferty will be looking towards Miltown, Éire Óg and his now native Doora / Barefield as his support base. Much will hinge on the views of such clubs as Wolfe Tones, the Banner and the North Clare clubs as to which way the votes will fall. Expect a full turnout of delegates for this contest. Many of the other positions should return officers unopposed for the coming year and most of the motions before the AGM are relatively un-contentious affairs. Nominees for 2007 Life Presidents: Tom Malone, Fr. O'Keeffe. Vice Presidents: Johnny Hayes, Tommy Haugh, Maureen Kenny. Chairman: James Lafferty, John Fennell. Vice Chairman: Johnny Hayes. Secretary: Michael Fitzpatrick. Assistant Secretary: Lorraine Kelly, Patricia Keane. Treasurer: Christy McNamara, Christy O'Connor. Assistant Treasurer: Mary Kenny. Adult PRO: Paul McKenna. Underage PRO: P.J. O'Halloran. Development Officer: Davy Browne, Carmel Eustace. Children's Officer: Mary Daly, Jim Costello, Eva Keane. Cultural Officer: Lorraine Kelly. Munster Council Delegates: Christine Hayes, Michael Fitzpatrick, Davy Browne, James Lafferty. Central Council Delegates: Christine Hayes, Carmel Eustace, Mary Keane, Michael Fitzpatrick, James Lafferty. Registrar: Terry Meaney. Fixtures Secretary: Davy Browne, Mary Keane. Dr. Paul McKenna PRO Clare Ladies Football Board Tweet

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