DRA secretary pleased with his first year
April 30, 2010Matt Shaw's first year as secretary of the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) has been challenging with a variety of disputes being referred for arbitration.
In 2008, the highest appeals body of the GAA's disciplinary system dealt with seven high-profile cases, including the suspensions of Kerry's Paul Galvin and Dublin's Colin Moran and the process of how the Donegal football manager was appointed. By contrast, last year only one inter- county player brought a case to the DRA ( Monaghan forward Tommy Freeman ). Other cases referred to the DRA in 2009 included the All-Ireland hurling relegation dispute, the application of the parish rule in Longford and a variety of disciplinary cases not involving county players. Recent applications to the DRA have included boundary disputes between clubs and inter club transfers as well as
The decline in disciplinary cases being taken to the DRA is proof that the once much-maligned GAA disciplinary system is working, according to Mullingar-based solicitor Matt Shaw, who was appointed as DRA secretary for a three-year term at Congress in April 2009.
"The DRA had 20 applications last year compared to 26 the previous year," the former Lough Lene Gaels hurler enthuses.
"There has been a notable drop in the number of inter-county players bringing cases to the DRA. That, to me, indicates a decline in indiscipline. Discipline is still a major problem in the GAA, but I think we are heading in the right direction. The experimental rules which were used during last year's National Leagues may have been narrowly defeated at Congress, but I still they were a success from the point of view that they were still fresh in players' minds and that carried through to last year's championship. There was a level of respect there."
The Disputes Resolution Authority was established in 2005 to implement an arbitration rule which the GAA had adopted at that year's Congress. The DRA is independent of the GAA and consists of a secretary and a panel of arbitrators from which it establishes arbitration tribunals to deal with disputes referred to it. The panel comprises solicitors, barristers, arbitrators and persons who are suitably qualified to resolve disputes relating to the rules of the Association.
A case can only be brought to the DRA after the other avenues of appeal - the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC), the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) and the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) - have been exhausted. Meath man Liam Keane, who has Rosemount connections, served four years as secretary before handing over the reins to fellow solicitor Matt Shaw last year. All correspondence is dealt with by Matt at his practice in Mullingar which, rather fittingly, overlooks Cusack Park.
While Rory O'Connell's landmark High Court case, which enabled him to line out for Westmeath in their 2004 Leinster football final success, was undoubtedly a factor in the GAA's decision to establish the DRA, Matt claims it would have happened regardless.
"Sports arbitration had been established in Aussie Rules and other sports, so it was only a matter of time before the GAA followed suit," he says.
"The DRA allows the GAA to deal with their disciplinary matters quickly and eliminates the possibility of players going to the High Court to seek injunctions. I firmly believe that arbitration is a better way of resolving such disputes than court.
"The GAA is my main passion in life and that's why I believe very strongly in the DRA."
Matt is a partner in Kelly Caulfield Shaw Solicitors who are celebrating 10 years in their premises at Chapterhouse, Friar's Mill Road, Mullingar. A past-pupil of St. Finian's College, Mullingar and UCD, Matt began his apprenticeship with Paddy Caulfield and Charlie Kelly in 1991. He qualified as a solicitor in 1994 and became a partner in the firm four years later.
Kelly Caulfield Shaw Solicitors are a long-established medium-sized general practice firm specialising in conveyancing, probate and litigation. The firm has a staff of eight supporting five solicitors who are committed to providing their clients with an efficient, friendly and value-for-money service.
A native of Collinstown, Matt enjoyed a hugely successful playing career with his local Lough Lene Gaels club, winning five senior hurling championships in 1996, '98, '99, 2000 and 2002. Lining out at midfield in most of those successes, his first appearance in a county final ended in defeat to Raharney in 1992. But the Gaels atoned for that disappointment four years later when they defeated Castletown-Geoghegan by 2-7 to 0-9 to end a 20-year wait for Examiner Cup honours.
That victory marked the start of the club's greatest era which continues to this day. The three-in-a-row achieved between 1998 and 2000 holds a special place in Matt's heart. Indeed, the Gaels would have achieved an unprecedented five-in-a-row had their great rivals Castlepollard not beaten them after a replay in 1997.
"After losing the '92 final to a last-minute Tommy Raleigh goal, there was an influx of young players like Mark Briody, Christo Murtagh, Michael Murtagh, Brendan Williams, Martin Williams and Paul Williams into the team. Mick Cosgrave came home from New York to train us and the 1996 win kick-started a golden era for Lough Lene Gaels," explains Matt, who is also the holder of three under 21 championship medals.
"We had some fantastic tussles with 'Pollard, Clonkill, Castletown and Raharney during those years. Last year, the club celebrated its 40th anniversary and it was great to be able to look back on those victories.
"If there is one regret I have from my time playing with the Gaels, it's the fact that we didn't challenge for a Leinster club title. We gave Glenmore from Kilkenny a good game of it one year and ran St. Anne's of Wexford very close in St. Loman's in 2000. That was the closest we came to making a breakthrough."
Matt also served as Lough Lene Gaels secretary from 1992 to '97 (he was one of the youngest club secretaries in the county at the time) and as chairman from 1999 to 2004. He now lives in Clonkill with his wife Anne, who he married in 1999, and his children Laura (aged nine), Andrew (eight) and Emily (five). Laura plays camogie with St. Munna's, while Andrew is starting out with Clonkill.
While Matt is now involved in underage coaching in Clonkill, he makes no secret of the fact that he was cheering on his beloved Gaels against his adopted club in last year's county final.
"I'll be a Gaels man 'til I die," he jokingly remarks.
"Unfortunately, they came up short last year, but they have a good young team coming again and that bodes well for the future. Brendan Williams is managing them again this year and he'll be aiming to take the next step with them. The Gaels have lost five county finals since they last won one in 2002, so they need to win one soon."
Recently, Matt revived his refereeing career after a 15-year lapse and among the games he took charge of last year was the junior 'B' championship final.
"When I started refereeing, I was still playing so that took precedence. But since retiring in 2005, I've been able to take up the whistle again and it has been going well for me so far."
Such are Matt's credentials and involvement in the GAA at so many different levels that, dare I say it, he would make a good GAA president some day! Tweet
