Murphy exercises option to stay on in role

GAELIC GAMES:THE DISCLOSURE that Cork county secretary Frank Murphy will be staying on in the post for a another year resolves an issue that had lain un-addressed since September. Twelve months previously Murphy had indicated he intended to step down from the position, in which he has served since 1972, the following year.

Although there was reference to his having an option to stay on, that possibility was reported at the time as unlikely.

This September came and went, however, with no reference to Murphy’s position apart from speculation about his potential successor. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Cork county committee it was announced the secretary had exercised his option to stay on. It is now considered likely he will remain in the position until next year’s county convention.

Murphy is one of the best known and most controversial administrators in the GAA. The first full-time official on his appointment 38 years ago, he was also a top-class referee and officiated at the 1971 All-Ireland hurling final between Tipperary and Kilkenny.

An accepted authority on the GAA rule book, he has sat on many committees at central level and currently chairs the rules advisory committee.

At the same time, his willingness to wield his formidable knowledge of the rule book to assist Cork players and teams in difficulties also became legendary.

In more recent years he was central to the series of disputes between senior county players and the Cork county executive that led to a refusal to join the county panels on three occasions in the past decade.

There had been suggestions Murphy might gravitate away from his duties to take up a role supervising the proposed stadium development in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, but, according to some sources in the county, that project could well be delayed in the current economic difficulties.

GAA rules now specify that county secretaries should retire at 65 and serve no more than two seven-year terms, but Cork aren’t bound by this. Murphy’s appointment considerably pre-dates the provisions and, as the county, rather than Croke Park, pays his salary, the parties aren’t bound by the rule.

• WATERFORD hurler Michael Walsh, Kerry footballer Colm Cooper and Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald are the Bord Gáis Energy Munster GAA Awards winners for 2010.

The awards will be presented on Saturday night in the Malton Hotel, Killarney, to over 30 players, officials, referees and hall-of-famers.