Ger Lane has given a lifetime of service to his club Bride Rovers and Cork GAA 

Over the years the GAA community all over this country have had magnificent ambassadors and in Cork we have been graced with many top gentlemen and ladies in every corner of this county.

It was fitting my next trip to Rathcormac to catch up with Ger Lane of Bride Rovers would be an interesting conversation.

Ger finished up at chairman of the Cork County Board in 2017 after serving as vice chairman for three years.

Previous to that stint Lane had served as PRO of the board for a three spell from 2009 to 2011 and after that he went to be the Cork Munster Council delegate for five years.

So before elevating to the top tier how did Ger get involved in his beloved sport?

“To be honest, it was always administration that I enjoyed as I was elected juvenile secretary of Bride Rovers as a 17-year-old that really started the whole journey off as I was in this position for nine years,” Lane said.

Moving to the east Cork board was the next step of the journey for Ger.

“I was elected vice-chairman and chairman of the juvenile board for three years and ironically I spent one year as chairman of the juvenile board and I was also vice chairman of the adult board of the division in the same year in the season of 1997,” Lane added.

Moving forward again Ger spent ten years as chairman of the east Cork board but after giving years of sheer graft he decided he needed a rest at the end of 2007.

“I suppose when you are full on you need to recharge your batteries as I took a break for 2008 and our former late chairman Mick Dolan persuaded me to go for PRO of the County Board and to be honest, I was reluctant at first.” 

After succumbing to the persuasion of Mr. Dolan Ger then decided to go forward and at convention he defeated Mick O’Loughlin from Bishopstown to the job.

“I got the bug as I started in 2009 in the PRO job and with the war raging at that time after the strikes, I was asked to be liaison officer with the Cork Senior football team.

“To be honest, I had a great relationship with manager Conor Counihan and his management team and to win the All-Ireland in 2010 is something that will always be one of my great memories.” 

The role of PRO has risen a few levels over the years and Ger feels he was lucky to be surrounded by a good group of people.

“We got a lot done and I could see this was a demanding role and I was then brought on to a national committee of PRO’s in Croke Park under Nicky Brennan.” 

Ger believes that when you are operating at the top level of the sport there is lots of focus and dedication in the various roles.

“You have got to have a special passion and if you don’t enjoy it you are in the wrong job but looking back, I really enjoyed my years at all levels and hopefully my work ethic has helped the sport.” 

Ger always had a special approach to his job.

“Players play and administrators do what they know best and whether its club or county the administration has got to be at a good level for everything to run smoothly.” 

Amazingly although out of the limelight Ger still continues to work on a committee in Munster council.

“I am on the referees appointing committee as we appoint all the referees barring Munster Senior championship games to various games and it’s another role I enjoy.” 

The Lane name is continuing in the Cork County Board as son Daniel is working as a full-time administrator.

“Daniel was secretary of our club before moving to Imokilly and the role came up in Pairc Ui Chaoimh and he managed to get it, but I am sure it’s a challenging role with the size of our county.” 

Now back concentrating his efforts with his own club Lane believes great work is being done all at levels in Rathcormac.

“We purchased 13 acres and are developing three pitches and although Covid was raging when this all started it kept us busy looking after this project.

“Rathcormac is a growing area and we needed more pitches of which two are completed and I am still very much involved at various levels with my club who are progressing nicely at various levels.” 

Let’s salute the work and commitment that Ger Lane has given to his beloved sport.