Football

Ulster miss out as New York's Larry McCarthy is voted GAA Trustee

ULSTER’S loss proved to be America’s gain after New York delegate Larry McCarthy was elected to serve on the GAA management committee at Annual Congress.

McCarthy and Tipperary’s John Costigan were voted in as the two new GAA trustees out of a field of six candidates that included two men from Monaghan - Declan Flanagan and Martin McAvinney (the former Ulster Council President).

Using the PR voting system, the vote was split between the two Ulster candidates who polled 51 first preference votes each. Robert Frost and Paddy McMahon were eliminated and the Monaghan rivals were still neck and neck on 56 after the second stage when the second preference votes from Frost and McMahon had been distributed.

One of them had to be eliminated and so – in keeping with GAA rules – Ballybay native McAvinney’s name was drawn out of a box meaning that he was out of the process and Flanagan (from Cremartin) went on to the third round.

Flanagan might have hoped to receive a boost from McAvinney’s third preference votes but he got just 11, meaning that McCarthy (who got 32 to bring his total to 113) and Costigan were elected.

Outgoing GAA President Aogan O Fearghail hailed McCarthy’s election as “an historic moment” for the Association.

He added: “This is the first time ever that a representative of Congress elected to our management committee comes from a unit outside Ireland. It’s an historic move for the Association.”

McCarthy’s election means he will clock up a lot of air miles traveling back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean for meetings. But that won’t be a problem for the Cork City native.

“It’s a great boost for the New York County Board and the GAA in America in general,” said the Sligo GAC clubman who added that he was “humbled” by his election.

“I live in New York, I live very close to Newark Airport. On Thursday evenings I have left home at half-five, I have checked in and been at the gate by half-six, been in the air at seven and been in Dublin at seven the following morning.

“Going back on Monday morning, I leave at nine, I’m in New York at 11 and at my desk at 1pm. People don’t even know I’m gone with that sort of arrangement.”

McCarthy added: “It’s not about the overseas units although I will represent them and give them a voice at the top table. The units outside Ireland and England have never had this representation before.

“But it’s not about that, it’s about being involved in the GAA and being involved in its management.”

His fellow trustee John Costigan, from Tipperary, added: “This is a great honour for me. “As I said to many people: ‘If I am elected I am elected for everyone here whether you voted for me or you didn’t vote for me.”

Meanwhile, McAvinney admitted that he was “severely disappointed” after coming up short. It seems certain that the votes that could have gone to him went to Flanagan and vice-versa.

“I’d like to thank everyone who voted for me,” he said.

“In my tour around the county and around our overseas units I spoke to an awful lot of people. We have a great organization and the people who are in it inspired me.

“I’m disappointed that I’ve lost but I suppose it’s a bit of history. I wish I wasn’t part of it, but to lose on a draw lot… I suppose I’ll be remembered, I can come back and say: ‘Do you remember me? I’m the fella that lost out of the box’.

“I want to congratulate by John and Larry who have given a lifelong contribution to the Association.”

Declan Flanagan added: “It was a well run election and nobody lost friends.

“Congratulations to the two men who were successful and thanks to my county for supporting me and everyone else who supported me.”