Less than 50% turnout as Gortletteragh the only club with full compliment at Leitrim GAA Convention

Less than 50% of those entitled to vote at last Thursday's Leitrim GAA County Board Convention turned out to vote in the Bush Hotel with Gortletteragh the only club in the county to have a full compliment of delegates at the end of year meeting.

With a total voting strength of 115, the Convention saw just 55 delegates, including county board officials, registered to vote on the evening with Gortletteragh the only club to fulfill it's quota of four delegates on the evening with three clubs having no representatives at the meeting.

County Champions Mohill, Aughawillan and Aughnasheelin had no delegates at the meeting although some of their club members were present as County Board officials. Melvin Gaels, Leitrim Gaels, Kiltubrid, Glenfarne Kiltyclogher, Glencar Manorhamilton, Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins, Aughavas and Annaduff all had just one delegate at the Convention.

McCartin warns inter-county funding is unsustainable despite surplus of over €250,000 for Leitrim GAA in 2023

Allen Gaels, Ballinaglera, Carrigallen and Drumkeerin all had three four delegates at the meeting while Bornacoola, Cloone, St Patrick's Dromahair, Drumreilly, Eslin, Fenagh St Caillins and St Mary's Kiltoghert all had two delegates.

As it turned out, just three votes on motions for Congress went before the Convention with no elections held on the evening. Leitrim 1994 star and current Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins ladies team manager Brian Breen was not present on the night as he was at training with his team ahead of Saturday's All-Ireland Final but he was elected as Youth Officer to replace Mohill's Paul Murphy who stood down from the post.

A County Executive motion seeking to allow clubs to nominate a maximum of 18 players at the end of the group stages of the club championship who will no longer be allowed to play at a lower level was passed easily. This is a change from the current situation where the first 18 players who lined out were considered ineligible for second and third team and would allow clubs to pick who their first 18 ahead of the knockout stages.

An almost identical motion from St Mary's was defeated last year but it received resounding support with Vincent O'Rourke, who proposed the motion, said it would ensure that a player, who may have only got a few minutes in one of the earlier rounds but then lost his place, would still be able to play championship football in the rest of the year.

Get your shoes on for Leitrim's 50 Miles in January Challenge - GALLERY

Leitrim people all over the world are being urged to lace up their shoes, get on their bikes or even get in the pool and join the 2024 50 Miles in January Challenge which was launched on Friday December 8, at in Carrick Business Campus …. See who you can spot at the launch!

Three motions from Ballinamore Sean O'Heslins were also successful on the evening with delegates approving a motion to have the actual attendance figure be given for All Ireland Hurling and Football Finals on the day, rather than the vague “Full House”; a motion calling on the GAA to seek major funding from the Irish Government and the Stormont Executive to cooperate in an ambitious national initiative to promote the game of hurling in the weaker counties and that the use of a TMO (Televised Match Official) be trialled at All Ireland Finals (Football, Hurling, Camogie and Ladies Football) in 2024 only in issues related to verification or otherwise of scores, goals and points.