John Fogarty, Mullingar
WHETHER it was the heat of Liam O’Neill’s breath on his neck or not, Christy Cooney gave his most polished performance yet as GAA President at Congress in Mullingar on Saturday.
As he enters his last 12 months of office, there was a conviction and courage not seen in the Cork man’s first two years in office.
In his firebrand address to Congress, he became the first GAA President to raise the possibility of realigning the provinces – a revolutionary step.
“Do we need a more even spread of counties in each province?” he asked. “Should we dispense with the ancient geographical borders of the four provinces and seek instead to realign our provinces along more practical lines, in a manner that better suits the Association’s needs in the 21st century?”
He also gave a stern warning to counties who pay managers that they risk losing financial support from Croke Park if they maintain such illegitimate practices.
Previously when speaking to the media, Cooney has almost taken refuge in deferring responsibility. “That would be a matter for [enter relevant GAA body]” became his stock-line.
He is most certainly a chairman, a man who delegates well but he was coming across as someone only too happy to pass off key matters.
On Saturday, he demonstrated he is decisive and can show the way.
Aside from his speech, he was commanding in his role as Congress chairman, keeping delegates in check and showing leadership when asking proposers to clarify their motions when it was most needed.
Although his time-keeping wasn’t perfect (more of that anon) and his spat with a Wexford delegate about his refusal to bring forward their motion in the Clár (it was the last motion heard) in light of the county’s pressing U21 All-Ireland semi-final in Dublin could have been avoided.
Still, it did nothing to take away from a thoroughly convincing display by Cooney who was unequivocal in how he wanted the day to go.
During a debate on the creation of a playing rules committee, one Tyrone delegate took to the microphone to complain about the rebranding of the National League as the Allianz Leagues.
He was swiftly shot down by Cooney, who told him his point had nothing to do with the issue in hand.
But the episode perfectly illustrated the problems with Congress and why, as Cooney indicated in his speech, the GAA has to have a serious look at its effectiveness.
It must be said, however, that the length of his address – one hour and two minutes – may have inadvertently contributed to the motion on replays getting the green light. After running over by 90 minutes (Cooney had twice said he aimed to finish Congress at 4pm), the debate for the proposal was rushed and there was a limit put on the number of speakers for and against the motion.
O’Neill now begins the countdown to Congress in his native Laois next year when he will be handed the Uachtarán’s pin by Cooney.
On Saturday, he was nursing a swollen right hand that had ballooned in size because of the amount of handshaking he had done on Friday night. The condition was so bad he couldn’t close it!
But such is the collateral effect of becoming GAA President-elect. Cooney has been that soldier but as he begins to wind down his term in office maybe he’s beginning to realise that he needs a better legacy.
Up to now, the highlight of his presidency has been the official recognition protocol with the GPA. But he knows he will need more if he is to be regarded as an outstanding Uachtarán.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/FIXgUeLlLME/post.aspx
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