Stephen Brosnan talks to Kevin McMahon about his time in the John Mitchels Club…
Name: Kevin Mc Mahon
Role: John Mitchel’s RefereeTralee GAA Board Member. John Mitchel’s Minor player from/to: 1976-1979
Player Position: Right Corner Back
(Q): Which player/club member would you have looked up to as a player?
(A): “Sylvie Mason was the person many of us looked up to. He was a great organiser great with young people. Sylvie gave a lot of his time to juvenile football in the club and to the youth of the community. The club hosts an annual tournament named in his honour”.
(Q): For you what is your greatest accomplishment as a player or club member?
(A): “I am a member of the organising committee for the annual U8 & U10 boys club blitz.
The tournament now in its fourteenth year has gone from strength to strength. It’s a great since of accomplishment to see it going so well each year.
This year will see more than twenty teams take part and sixty one games played in the one day event.
Great credit is due to all the people involved for their effort in making it a great success each year”.
(Q): What other sport(s) have you been involved in?
(A): “I played basketball at under age level. Gaelic football was the only sport I had any real interest in playing”.
(Q): What has been your greatest disappointment as a player/club member?
(A): “I have to say it was the defeat in the senior county final in 1989. It was hard to take at the time and it is still a talking point within the club”.
(Q): If you could change a rule(s) in Gaelic football what would you change?
(A): “I would re-introduce the sin-bin 10 minute rule this would solve a lot of problems on the pitch. I believe it would restore discipline among players.
I would also introduce a compulsory course at club level for both players and management teams on the rules of the game”.
(Q): What is unique about your sport?
(A): “Gaelic football and GAA sports have a great community spirit. It is a lot cheaper financially for parents & players alike to be involved with a GAA club than many other sports”.
(Q) What are the most difficult challenges that referees face?
(A) “The lack of discipline on the side-line is increasing especially at under age level. The onus should be on the clubs to deal with this matter and in fairness many have strict codes of conduct. The various County Boards should also impose the necessary measures to stamp out this behaviour”.
(Q): What is satisfying about Gaelic football to you?
(A): “The friendships you make from when you first join at a young age remain with you for life. It is satisfying to see people enjoying the game and getting behind their team. We have great support for our teams at all levels in the club”.
(Q): What are your thoughts on the present and future of the club?
(A): “At present we’re in great shape we have great facilities. Going forward the future looks great we have great people at the club. Our future success will depend upon the numbers of new players that join each year. At present we have good numbers at juvenile level in the club. This needs to be sustained and even improved on in the coming years”.
This article originally appeared in the John Mitchels GAA Club Notes.
