Long serving administrator beats hurling legend in vote for Offaly GAA president

ONE of Offaly's longest serving administrators and greatest workers beat one of the county's greatest hurling heroes in a vote to be the new Offaly GAA president at a County Board meeting on Tuesday evening.

Ballycommon club man Christy Todd was successful in a secret ballot vote, elected ahead of goalkeeping legend, Damien Martin, St Rynagh's – Martin's intercounty career spanned three decades from the 1960s to the 1980s and he was a great goalkeeper on the breakthrough team that won the first Leinster senior hurling title in 1980, followed by an All-Ireland a year later. He was Offaly's first hurling All-Star back in 1971.

The margin of victory was not disclosed but Damien Martin quipped after the election that if he had a vote himself at the meeting, he would have given it to Christy Todd.

Chairman Tom Parlon congratulated Todd on becoming president, noting that it was an acknowledgement of his long years of service.

Todd was a good goalkeeper in his playing career in the 1970s into the 1980s, playing junior and senior football with Ballycommon as well as senior football with Daingean in the 1970s.

SEE NEXT: Injury worries mount as Offaly face steep learning curve in National Hurling League

It was his work as an administrator, however, that brought him to wider GAA attention. Having served firstly as Ballycommon GAA chairman for a few years, he turned his attention to county level. Elected as Football Officer in 1983, he became secretary of the then Bord na nOg in 1986, County Board assistant secretary in 1987 and secretary in 1991 when he replaced Clara's Br Sylvester Carney.

He remained secretary until 2007 when the GAA's new five year rule forced him to step down. A remarkably dedicated, efficient and hard working official who devoted countless hours to Offaly, he was secretary during a very busy period as Offaly won All-Ireland senior hurling titles in 1994 and 1998, the footballers made a brief comeback in 1997 and 1998 when they won Leinster and National Football League titles while he was also there during a period when the board found itself embroiled in managerial upheavals – particularly in football when Edenderry's Paul O'Kelly and Galway's Gerry Fahy had acrimonious one year terms in 2003 and 2004.

After he stepped down as secretary, he did a brief term as Central Council delegate before opting out from that. He then remained immersed in Offaly GAA in a behind the scenes capacity – initially as an administrator and then over O'Connor Park before moving to Faithful Fields, which he still oversees.

A former employee with FAS, based in Athlone and then Tullamore, he retired some years ago and his election will be warmly welcomed by the many people who soldiered with him in a variety of capacities over the years.

He replaces a man who he worked with several years, the late Brendan Ward, Durrow, who was chairman through his reign as secretary up until 2002 – presidency is a ceremonial role and Todd can serve for five years when a new person must be elected.

Other officers were appointed at the meeting with Kilcormac-Killoughey's Keith Screeney Coiste na nOg chairman, John O'Reilly, Edenderry referees' administrator and Peter Lyons, Drumcullen, the Safety and Facilities Officer.

A former employee with FAS, based in Athlone and then Tullamore, he retired some years ago and his election will be warmly welcomed by the many people who soldiered with him in a variety of capacities over the years.

He replaces a man who he worked with several years, the late Brendan Ward, Durrow, who was chairman through his reign as secretary up until 2002 – presidency is a ceremonial role and Todd can serve for five years when a new person must be elected.

Alex Roe, Clara was elected as the new Communications Officer, replacing his club colleague Padraig O'Meara who has taken over as secretary. Other officers were appointed at the meeting with Kilcormac-Killoughey's Keith Screeney Coiste na nOg chairman, John O'Reilly, Edenderry referees' administrator and Peter Lyons, Drumcullen, the Safety and Facilities Officer. Ballinamere's Ken Molloy will fulfil a new role as Digital Lead, working alongside the Communications Officer.