GAA Talking Point
Mayo GAA News 18 June 1997
By John Melvin
KNOCKMORE STUNNED BY CLARKE RESIGNATION
The decision by the manager of the Knockmore senior football team, Eamon Clarke, to suddenly resign last week has stunned the club and the local community in Knockmore. Bitter recriminations and accusations over the running of the club has left a bad taste locally and matters have been exacerbated further by the senior teams poor showing in the league. They slumped to their seventh successive defeat on Sunday, leaving them at the bottom of the table and very much in danger of relegation next season.
Such a scenario for a team that reached the apex of an All Ireland club final on St Patrick's weekend could spell disaster for the future of the club, which appears to be torn between divided loyalties and personality clashes.
Sympathy and support for any club in such circumstances would be readily forthcoming from many sources but Knockmore's decision to prevent two of their players from turning out for Mayo in a crucial National league game last year has not endeared them in the eyes of many G.A.A. followers.
While Knockmore were not publicly attacked by the Mayo management over their decision to withdraw the players, there is no secret in the fact that Mayo manager John Maughan was infuriated by their attitude. It is no secret either that relationships between the club and the Mayo manager have been under a lot of strain.
The fact that the champions of Mayo have no player on the county panel is an indication in itself of the problems that abound between the club and Mayo senior team management.
That strain led to the decision by Kevin O'Neill to indicate he would be unable to commit himself to the county team for the coming year due to work commitments.
While O'Neill was entitled to make that decision there is a strong body of opinion suggesting that it was a disagreement with the Mayo management that played a role in his decision to opt out of county football.
Many viewed O'Neill's decision as a huge blow to Mayo football at a time when the county is badly in need of quality forwards.
The other prominent Knockmore footballer involved, Peter Butler, has always been willing to play for the county and has never indicated otherwise. But as recent as last Sunday he indicated he is unlikely to play senior football again due to ongoing injury problems.
He dismissed a report that he was back training with the Mayo team. He was unable to line out for his club on Sunday and has not been playing football for several weeks.
Meanwhile, as Knockmore struggle on under a caretaker management the club is likely to have serious look at the direction it is heading in.
While Eamon Clarke indicated he was unable to continue his duties because of business commitments, there is no doubt hat Clarke's resignation goes back to problems that developed sometimes after the All Ireland Final and the failure of former selector Peter Hughes to be reelected onto the team management board.
Both Hughes and Clarke have now been causalities of the problems that developed in the club and further casualties are likely unless they get their act together and sort out the internal bickering that appears to have dogged them this year in particular.
Nestor injured
David Nestor picked up an injury in training during the week but the Mayo corner forward is expected to be fully fit for Mayo's semi-final clash with Leitrim at Castlebar on June 29th.
Roscommon to win
Although hopes are very high in Sligo that they can pull it off against Roscommon the Connaught championship semi-final on Sunday, I will be more than surprised if Roscommon don't emerge as winners.
However, given Sligo record over the Roscommon men at Markievicz Park, they have every reason to be confident.
Roscommon and Sligo have met 26 times in the championship with Roscommon winning 18 of those. Sligo have won their last two meetings at this venue in 1987 and in 1981 when Sligo last appeared in a Connacht Final.
Encouraging signs at minor and under 21 level have given Sligo every reason to be confident of making the breakthrough this year.
Roscommon have yet to declare their full hand but I still expect them to take this one with a few points to spare.
