What’s new – Page 241

SPORTS DIRECT OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF CORK GAA

SPORTS DIRECT OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF CORK GAA

NEW CORK GAA JERSEY UNVEILED TO KICK OFF #BORNTOPLAY CAMPAIGN

Cork GAA are delighted to announce a five-year sponsorship deal with Cork GAA. This partnership will see Sports Direct support the men’s Senior Football and Hurling teams, as well as Minor and Under 20 teams in both codes.

As part of its partnership with Cork GAA, Sports Direct will be providing all panels with personalised access to its full range of boots, an arrangement that will also extend to all members of the backroom teams.

Today’s announcement also sees the release of our new Cork GAA jersey, designed and manufactured in collaboration with O’Neills. The jersey celebrates the three core pillars of club, school and county under Corcaigh that together form the foundation of Cork GAA. It is the clubs, schools and county teams and the army of volunteers contained within that constitutes the unique fabric of Cork GAA.

Speaking at today’s launch, Sports Direct Managing Director Leonard Brassel said: “We are incredibly proud to begin this journey with Cork GAA. Cork is a unique place in Ireland and boasts a proud history within the GAA. The People’s Republic of Cork is known for its passionate support of both football and hurling and all of us at Sports Direct share this passion for Gaelic Games. Over the past three years, we have been Official Supporters of 5 grassroots clubs and, this year, we will extend this grassroots support to incorporate six additional clubs, bringing the total to 11 clubs nationwide. We are delighted to take the next step from club sponsorship to county sponsorship and look forward to working with Cork GAA over the next five years celebrating their dedication and passion in support of the further development of Gaelic Games in Cork.”

Cork GAA Chairperson Marc Sheehan commented: “We are delighted to welcome Sports Direct on board as the new sponsor of Cork GAA. We are really looking forward to working with them and seeing the teams back in action in this fantastic new jersey in the future.”

Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan noted: “We are delighted to welcome Sports Direct to the Cork GAA family. We look forward to a growing partnership with them over the coming years and look forward to seeing the teams wearing their new strip in the near future. The commercial relationship with Sports Direct is part of Cork County Board’s wider One Cork initiative, which will drive future success for Cork GAA both on, and off, the field. By putting the three pillars of club, school and county together on the jersey, we want to show every player of every age that they are part of this shared future.”

The newly-launched jersey is now available exclusively through Sports Direct Ireland online https://ie.sportsdirect.com/, until stores across the country re-open. The jersey will remain exclusive to Sports Direct for the first three weeks after stores re-open, before becoming available in sports retailers nationwide. Fans can also purchase from www.o’neills.com. Customers who purchase via Sports Direct will receive a €10 voucher off their next Sports Direct purchase.

We are delighted to work with Sports Direct as we embark on a new journey. Further exciting activation will be unveiled nearer to the championship season, enabling GAA fans across the Cork to get behind our hurling and football teams.

Thank You Chill

Cork County Board wish to thank Chill Insurance for their support as our official sponsor from to
2013 to 2020. We shared some great games and thank them for their support through good times
and bad.

Commenting on the conclusion of the Chill Insurance sponsorship term was Cork GAA Chairperson,
Marc Sheehan, “I would like to take the opportunity to thank our friends at Chill Insurance for their support over the last few years, we have journeyed through some great games and I wish them the
very best in their future endeavours”.

CEO of Cork GAA, Kevin O’Donovan stated “It has been a pleasure partnering with Chill Insurance
and I look forward to welcoming them back to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh and continuing the friendships made
during our tenure together.”
Head of Marketing of Chill Insurance Fergal Lynch noted “Chill Insurance have had eight great years
as main sponsorship partner with Cork GAA. We wish Cork every success in 2021 and beyond. We will
always be a Rebels supporter.”

To remember some of the great days we shared together please visit https://youtu.be/9i8GKzrOzuY.

County Committee Report – 02/02/2021

The County Committee met on Tuesday February 2nd. County Chairman Marc Sheehan welcomed everyone to the online meeting , held on the Microsoft Teams platform, where there was in excess of 160 people in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting, January 12th were proposed and seconded. In relation to matters arising from the minutes, the Chairman was happy to confirm that the Cork GAA match passes would be re-instated for board delegates.

On the matter of correspondence received, the Runaí said that disciplinary notice had been received from the Ard Stiúrthóir and this was being given due consideration.

Correspondence had also been received from several club and delegates. Sean O’ Neill (Castlehaven) asked would 2020 finals be played before 2021 championship and the Runaí said that would be the plan. Clonakilty asked about start dates for the leagues and it was said the that was under review and the Vice – Chairperson would discuss it more. Cloughduv asked when club training could resume and the Runai said it would be after county teams had resumed but that county teams were classified as elite.

Blackrock asked about county final winner medals being available and the Runai said that was under review and that the medals would go to tender.

Inniscarra asked about the playing of the County under 20 hurling championship. The Runai said no decision had been made as to when it would be played this year.

Courcey Rovers asked if the county championship would be at under 21 or under 20 and the Runai said Under 21.

The Chairman confirmed the management teams for both the Minor football (for 2 years) and minor hurling for 1 year), The Chairman wished them every success during their terms.

The Chairperson raised the upcoming Rebels Bounty draw. He said there was 7 weeks to go and that the support committee were engaging very actively with clubs. There was allot of work being done and he asked clubs to process the tickets early.

The Runai said the support committee had decided that only persons names would be allowed on the ticket. Direct debits will run on February 12th. He said all members of previous draw will transfer to the new draw. It is the responsible of the club to have the draws up to date.

The January progress report was proposed and seconded

A CCC report was given by County Vice – Chairperson Pat Horgan. He said the fixtures might have to go back a few weeks, but we should have the sufficient 14 weeks to run off the 2021 Championships and to play the 2020 Championships before that. Pat said Championships draws would be done when resumption of training is announced. Pat said it had planned to play league finals 2 weeks before championship, but league finals might have to be played at the end of the year. The Vice – Chairman concluded by saying the CCC are continuing to meet and will meet on Wednesday to discuss independent teams.

The Runai said all transfers apart from 4 had been approved and the 4 transfers were given.

Munster council delegate Ger Lane gave a report on the last Munster Council meeting held along with a report from the Munster convention which was held recently. Michael Byrne spoke in relation to Munster council grants and while there no grants given out in 2020 and unlikely in 2021, clubs should keep all their receipts for application on a later date

Central council delegate Tracey Kennedy gave a report from the last central council meeting.

The Runai said an application had been made for a derogation in relation to the awarding of league points in the County leagues, and also to allow plyers from Under 17 to play at under 21

In relation to the GAA Annual Congress a briefing will be held on Wednesday for the County Chairpersons and Secretaries and a special county board meeting will be held on February 16th to deal with the motions.

The Chairman congratulated Blake Murphy (St Vincent’s) on being selected on the Eirgrid top 20 performers from the Under 20 football championship form last year.

The Chairman wished a speedy recovery to Brid Stack following her recent injury in Australia. The Chairman thanked the IT Officer Terry Brady for his help in hosting the meeting and his continuing hard work.

Development officer Noel O’ Callaghan spoke about a seminar on sports capital grants next Monday February 8th and that details would be sent to all club secretaries.

Liam O’ Laochdha advised that a Webinar organised by Coiste na Gaeilge on the role of the Oifigeach Gaeilge sa Chlub was scheduled to take place on Feb 16th at 7pm.

The votes of sympathy were read out and the Chairman took the opportunity to pay tribute to Eamonn Ryan RIP.

The next county committee would be held on Tuesday February 16th to discuss the congress motion and the next regular meeting of the county committee would be held on Tuesday March 2nd.

Covid Update – 01/02/2021

A Chara,

As you may have read or heard through media sources, a meeting of the GAA’s Covid Advisory group was held this evening. The meeting considered the question of a return to training for senior inter county teams.

It was the view of the group that the incidence of the virus in the community remains at a level where it would be irresponsible for the GAA to permit a return to collective training at this moment in time. However, the group did welcome the significant and ongoing reduction in case numbers over the course of the last number of weeks and it was agreed to reconvene on the week commencing February 15^th to further consider the matter.

As the situation with the virus remains fluid, it is unfortunately impossible for the Association to put definitive dates in place for when inter county training or games may resume. However, there are positive indications in terms of the reduction of case numbers and the continued roll out of the Covid vaccine and as such, the commencement of competitions in the month of March is a definite possibility. In that context, we remain committed to providing at least a four-week window for teams between the return of collective training and the commencement of competitive games, and remain committed to running all of the various competitions that were outlined in the original Master Fixture plan published last December.

In the interim, I would like to thank our players and managers for their understanding of the current situation and for co-operating with us in ensuring that collective training does not take place. I also wish to remind Counties that all pitches and gyms must remain closed for the time being.

Finally, I want to re-assure Counties and Clubs that despite this necessary delay in getting the inter-county season up and running, we remain committed to ensuring a healthy portion of the fixture calendar is allocated to our clubs so that they can return to training and competition as soon as Government restrictions permit. We are also conscious that outstanding club games from 2020 and the remaining games in the 2020 Minor and U20 inter county competitions need to be factored into the equation in this context.

We will issue a revised Master Fixture Calendar to address all of the above once a date for the commencement of the 2021 inter-county season has been agreed.

Is muidne,

Tomás O Riain Seán Ó hÓráín

ARD STIÚRTHÓIR UACHTARÁN