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GAA News 11 December 1996


Chairman dwells on positive side to All Ireland defeat

by John Melvin

As expected, the Mayo G.A.A. Convention, held in Claremorris on Monday night, was merely a meeting for mature reflection' on what was nothing short of a memorable, if not extraordinary year.

Not surprisingly, the keynote address by chairman, Fr Noel Forde, just about skirted controversy and certainly steered clear of churning up any further tides of emotion after a year of bitter sweet memories. His speech was cautious and carefully worded.

Fr Noel dwelt largely on the prospects of the future, using the famous line from Martin Luther King's I had a dream' speech. Fr Noel said Mayo had been to the summit, seen the Promised Land and would be returning again.

Like so many others in Mayo, Fr Noel is still convinced it was Pat McEneaney, rather than Meath, that cost Mayo an All Ireland title and to back up that argument he quotes from a report of the Ard Stiuritheoir in his annual report last year.

The report at the time questioned "the wisdom of appointing the same official to referee a replay, as it sometimes leads to the creation of necessary tensions".

"How right he was. It was a pity his words weren't acted upon and applied. The pages of history might have told a different tale", he observed.

He also felt the county minor team had been denied a place in the All Ireland Final due to a quick free, an argument supported by manager John P. Kean in his report to convention.

The bulk of the chairmans address goes to thanking and paying due tribute too all who had helped make 1996 such a memorable year. From the team, sponsors, fund raisers and fellow officers to the three wise men from the West-John Maughan, Peter Ford and Tommy O'Malley, to the financial wizardry of Paddy Muldoon, who had put a lot of work into the raising of funds to finance a very ex

pensive championship. According to the chairman, the most significant achievement was the restoration of pride in the Mayo jersey and the fact that the youth of the county had been won back, for the time being at least.

"We have restored pride and glory and the honour to the name Mayo, and have proven ourselves to be a football force to be reckoned with", he said.

He added " The pride in our game is easy to talk about, but when one is out and about and sees the young boys and girls in their red and green jersey with Casey and Sheridan, not Canton and Gigs, we see the reality".

He said there was now a glamour associated with wearing the Mayo jersey, and the visible pride was not just in the county, but was on a global scale as evidenced during his trip to New York.

In relation to the media, he accused the national press of having their won agenda but, said, " there were no such problems with the local press, despite the fact that there will always be tension between our truth, their truth and the truth". He thanked the players for their dedication and he congratulated those who were awarded All stars.

"Victory is hollow if pyrrhic. Defeat with pride is not shameful. Defeat with dignity is decent. We have maintained a solid secure standard without any deviation. With our heads held high and with pride we can say Mayo have come of age", he concluded.

Officers Elected:





Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - December 1996