THERE WAS little stir the emotions at the Carlow GAA convention in the Estoria in Bagenalstown on Saturday; the annual gathering finished in two hours and 15 minutes.

With only one motion of three discussed, an election - the only one for the officer corps - for Youth Officer was the only unusual aspect of the meeting with Liam Foley (Kilbride) defeating Sean Campion (Ballinabranna) after board president Very Rev Moling Lennon drew his name from the 'hat' after the two candidates had tied, not once but twice on 39 votes each.

Chairman Pat Deering declined to use his casting vote at the invitation of Martin Barry after the first vote and called on the 66 delegates and 12 officers to agree to a draw after the second tie – the first time on record that a second vote was required in any contest.

Liam was one of three newcomers to the inner council with Erin's Own Denis O'Brien ratified as PRO and Michael Whelan (Naomh Eoin) joining Clonmore's Jim Bolger as one of the two Leinster Council delegates.

Tommy Murphy, the long time PRO, was returned as Irish and Culture Officer.

The only hint of dissatisfaction came during the consideration of the report of the secretary and other committee chairpersons when Rangers delegate Margaret Byrne voiced her club's disappointment at the lack of coaching they had received from the county coaches during the year. 'There was a good bit of talk about it but it didn't amount to much - our members are very unhappy.'

The chairman told the meeting that the new coaching co-ordinator Michael Dempsey, an employee of the Leinster Council, would be addressing any shortcomings in that area in the coming year once he identifies them.

Palatine's John Brown also felt that after all the talk early in the year there was little coaching actually done, with Pat Deering telling him that he role of the county coaches was to educate club coaches, 'but at least one was expected to take a coaching session in one club and that is not the idea.'

County coaching co-ordinator John Dunphy said they identified what clubs required in conjunction with the co-ordinator in each club. 'There was a bit of a breakdown in communications and some coaches went into clubs and were left to coach teams,' which he added was not their role.

He explained that they forwarded folders to clubs at the start of the year with a six weeks programme, but with a very disappointing feedback. 'It was the first year and there were teething problems, and we need the co-operation of the clubs to get it right. We hope to address it at the start of the year, but we have to identify what clubs need if we are to improve it in '09.'

Tommy Murphy, who for the first time in decades did not bring up the decline of Scor competitions, stressed the importance of the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention initiative, adding that the appeal for clubs to elect such and officer was 'not getting anywhere really fast.'

However, he paid tribute to the seven Leighlinbridge parish clubs who had combined to produce what he considered to be the best policy booklet in the province.

He told the meeting the initiative was the result of a worrying drug trend in Galway, and while they were not advocating that individuals confront the problem, clubs needed to know where to go and who to approach if they detected the problem in their area.

A video and prevention material was distributed to delegates at the end of the meeting urging them to post the literature within their clubs.

The convention opened with addressed from Erin's Own chairman David O'Brien followed by club president Mick Jones who recalled that '09 had been a very good year for Erin's Own despite not winning any silver. He drew attention to a plaque at St. Brigid's National School with the names of six Erin's Own founder members, noting that their children and grandchildren were members of the club, proving that they were not only a club but a family.

'Hurling has taken on a new lease of life in the county, and congratulations to the Ring Cup team. There have been great strides among the youth in Carlow.'

Very Rev. Brendan Howard who was leaving the PRO role because of increasing clerical duties, reminded delegates that the present generation had a duty to pass on the Gaelic tradition, adding that he noticed at GAA functions and funerals the tremendous respect communities have for those who contribute to the association and their local clubs. 'When you stay together nothing will stop you,' he concluded after which he received a presentation from the chairman to mark his contribution to the association, not only in Carlow but other counties also.

Pat Deering presented a silver Carlow medal to Fr. Lennon who emphasised the role of the GAA in the development of youth. 'But everything depends on the clubs who should also support their county teams.'

Secretary Tommy O'Neill pointed out the omission of the late Paddy O'Sullivan's (a '44 footballer) name from the list of departed Gaels in his report while delegates were informed that the Strategic Plan would be put before them in mid-January.

After his election as Irish Officer Tommy Murphy warned clubs that they would risk problems if they produced their team-sheets in English and perhaps lose a match as a result.

Development Officer Liam Barry also sounded a warning that clubs must do a safety audit and post in their premises. 'We need a lot more co-operation from clubs with all this stuff which is coming down the line. Clubs looking to undertake development will not be permitted to even turn a sod unless they receive permission' adding that one club built a gymnasium with one only forty metres 'down the road. You will have to be very careful how you spend money. Every club now has to do a strategic plan.'

Former Youth Officer David Hickey (Fenagh) who has just completed a three month's suspension for alleged abuse of a referee in the Fenagh/Kildavin-Clonegal SFC match, was incensed at a Nationalist report that he followed the referee to his dressingroom and hit the door after having abused him in front of children. 'That did not happen. People said to me in several places that I was wrong, but that did not happen,' he insisted, adding that someone had fabricated details and it had made him look very bad. 'I did not go to his dressing-room but straight to my car.'

The latest date for affiliations has been changed from January 4 top January 23 until the production of the strategic review.

The 2010 convention will be held in Myshall.

Four Carlow hurlers – Andrew Gaul, John Rogers, Shane Kavanagh and James Hickey will receive Ring Cup team of the year awards in Croke Park on Saturday.

- PAUL DONAGHY