Football

All change in Antrim as Saffron Vision take the county reins

Collie Donnelly of St John’s, who was elected the new chairman of the Antrim county board, at Monday night’s county convention 
Collie Donnelly of St John’s, who was elected the new chairman of the Antrim county board, at Monday night’s county convention  Collie Donnelly of St John’s, who was elected the new chairman of the Antrim county board, at Monday night’s county convention 

SAFFRON VISION claimed a resounding victory at Monday night’s Antrim County Convention, with six of its eight members winning a place on the new county committee.

It took just 20 minutes for the 139 delegates present in the Dunsilly Hotel, Antrim to set the pattern for the remainder of the two and-a-half-hour event when Collie Donnelly, one of the 'Saffron Vision Eight', was elected chairman to succeed Jim Murray, whose five-year tenure had come to an end.

The St John’s former vice-chairman was a clear winner - 88 to 51 - over Joe Edwards, whose nine-year association with the county board ended. The 53-year-old Donnelly, who played both hurling and football for his club and county, comes to the executive with a clean sheet, having little previous involvement in county administration, although he did serve for five years on the hearings committee.

Saffron Vision, who served notice of their intentions to shake up the county in late October, continued to celebrate when member Pól Mac Cana was elected treasurer. The St Enda’s clubman was 15 ahead of St Paul’s Billy McLarnon and will now fill the position vacated by Brendan Wilson, who did not seek reelection for personal reasons.

Just minutes later, the writing was on the wall for the existing executive when long-serving member Danny McLernon and Frank Smyth did not count against Glen Rovers man Philip Christie, who was elected on the first count as Central Council delegate. Christie, a farm grant consultant, has previous experience at executive level and is currently treasurer of the Armoy club.

The landslide continued when Glenravel’s Alec McQuillan was elected as one of the Ulster Council delegates and will accompany James McLean, who retained his position.

Saffron Vision members Brendan Mulgrew and John Hart missed out on making it a clean sweep as they were beaten to the PRO and cultural officer posts, respectively.

Putting his personal disappointment aside, Mulgrew was delighted with Monday night’s outcome and said: “It’s time for a new Antrim.”

“The clubs have spoken and they’ve decided on a new course, which means wholesale change. The votes were carried by big, big margins. There was a mood for change. The real job starts now for the new officers. And the fact that the people who have been elected, no-one will fault them for their hard work and dedication.

“Nowhere around the country would you see as big a change as that in one night.”

Seán Kelly of St Malachy’s edged out Mulgrew for the PRO position, 75 to 62, while Bronagh Lennon got the nod for the cultural officer post with a strong majority. Gort na Móna’s Terry Reilly took the assistant secretary position, defeating Stephen Boyle by 36 votes and will work alongside existing secretary Frankie Quinn, who has one more term, at least, to serve.

Elsewhere, Cushendall’s Malachy Delargy beat former PRO Seán Fleming to the vice-chair position with 39 votes to spare.

In his final address, Jim Murray, who took the new development officer position, said the county committee had made their decision and the challenge was to be welcomed. He did, however, comment on the personal and hurtful comments made during electioneering period before adding that he had a dream for county hurling and football, Casement Park and the Centre of Participation and Dunsilly.

New chairman Collie Donnelly said it was a great honour to be elected and expressed his group’s thanks to all the clubs visited in the past six weeks. After the results were announced, former Antrim footballer Anto Finnegan remarked on Twitter that it was important to acknowledge the contribution of the outgoing officers.

The St Paul’s man tweeted: “A number of great Antrim GAA servants losing out tonight at county convention. Their contribution should not be forgotten #AontroimAbu."

ELECTED OFFICERS


Chairman: Collie Donnelly; vice-chair: Malachy Delargy; assistant secretary: Terry Reilly; treasurer: Pól Mac Cana; assistant treasurer: Tyrone Eastwood; development officer: Jim Murray; coaching officer: Columb Walsh; language and cultural officer: Bronagh Lennon; PRO: Seán Kelly; Central Council delegate: Philip Christie; Ulster Council delegates: Alex McQuillan and Jim McLean.