Football

Fermanagh County Convention: Greg Kelly takes over as chairman

THERE was change at the top table at the annual Fermanagh convention with Greg Kelly taking over as chairman and ex-Sinn Féin MLA, Phil Flanagan, filling the role of vice-chairman.

Patsy Dolan has served his five years at the helm with Kelly moving from vice-chairman to the top job unopposed. At Monday’s convention, outgoing chairman Dolan joined the chorus of GAA people in putting on record his assessment that the black card has not been a success.

“Referees are assessed on nearly every outing, by who some of us could ask,” he said.

“Linesmen and umpires are wired up, for what? Cards were introduced to improve our games yet are invariably used sparsely it seems, or only by some, which has caused nothing but confusion to players and supporters alike.

“I would suggest we get back to basics in our game. For my part, the black card has been tried and failed.

“When I watched a prominent referee being assessed by a past referee who has officiated at a much lower level, I questioned the whole ethos of positive assessment and referee development.”

Meanwhile new chairman Kelly explained that he wanted his chairmanship to reflect a real unity within the county.

“We are a small county and it is vital that we move forward with a unity of purpose. “It is so important that everyone works together and I think, by and large, over the last number of years that has been achieved and I want to foster that feeling moving forward,” he said.

The Enniskillen Gaels clubman sees the balance between club and county as something that the GAA as a whole needs to tackle.

“I think it is accepted now that changes need to be made.

“There needs to be a tightening up of the National League season while I also think the condensing of the Ulster Championship is something that needs looked at and the All-Ireland final itself should come back a week or two at least.

“So these are all things that would help the club player.”