Champions Mullahoran in midst of upheaval

Paul Fitzpatrick

An Extraordinary General Meeting of Mullahoran GFC has been called for this Friday after a week of upheaval during which senior team manager Peter Clarke and, it is understood, a majority of the executive committee resigned their positions.

Clarke, a Fermanagh native who led Lisnakea to an All-Ireland intermediate title, told The Anglo-Celt that he was disappointed with how the situation came about and hinted that there had been a breakdown in trust with some senior players. 

Clarke was in charge of the team for the win over Lacken on May 12 in Crowe Park, but subsequently resigned, after which it is understood the key members of the executive held a meeting and resigned en masse.

A letter was issued to club members last Friday requesting attendance at the a meeting in the clubrooms at Our Lady of Lourdes Park this Friday.
“I’m very disappointed. I made my decision and I’m not going to look back in anger,” Clarke told The Anglo-Celt.

“There are a lot of good people in Mullahoran and I want to leave with dignity, I don’t want to leave slinging arrows. The committee know what the issues were and I had the full backing of them.

“We were in a good league position and it was only the middle of May. Progress was being made and it takes time for a group to come together. Everyone in the group has to be an energy-giver, not an energy-sapper, and what makes the dream possible is when everybody gives everything to the group, regardless of their own agendas, the group always comes first.

“The most important thing in a group is trust, regardless of who the manager is, and I felt there were some individuals pulling against the group. But there are some great people in Mullahoran and I wish them well for the rest of the season.”

Clarke added that he felt there are underlying problems in the club.

“Mullahoran are a proud club but there were issues there before I came. For the good of the club, they need to sort them out. The issues need to be resolved and if something good comes out of this, all the better for themselves.”

Members of the executive declined to comment when contacted by The Anglo-Celt.

Mullahoran currently sit fourth in the ACFL Division 1A table, just one point behind leaders Kingscourt, who have played a game more. Cavan Gaels, to whom the Dreadnoughts lost last weekend, lie third with two games in hand.