Mixed reaction to GAA/GPA deal

REACTION TO last weekend’s agreement between the GAA and the players’ body, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), continues to be mixed.

In what may be the first stumbling block in getting the agreement fully endorsed at next year’s Congress, the Cork County Board on Tuesday night expressed some considerable reservation on the merits of the agreement, and referred the matter back to the clubs before deciding what way to vote at the Central Council meeting next Saturday week.

After a robust debate on the matter, in which the majority of those who spoke on the topic opposed the deal – only one delegate apparently welcomed it – it was felt the clubs should get a more thorough feeling as to the level of support for the agreement.

That will then determine which way the county board mandate their delegate to vote on Saturday week, when Central Council meets to decide on the motion to put to Congress, after which, if it gets that far, will see the overall agreement being finalised by next October.

“There was quite a lot of opposition to the deal with the GPA and clubs felt they needed to go back and consult with their members,” said board PRO Ger Lane.

This contrasts with the reaction in Tipperary, where support for the agreement was unanimous. The matter was discussed at Tuesday’s county board meeting in Thurles, under former chairman John Costigan, and current chairman Barry O’Brien, and ended with club delegates giving the agreement their full support.

“Following the meeting on Saturday morning at Croke Park, at which John Costigan and I were present from Tipperary, an agreement in principle was reached between the GAA and the GPA,” stated O’Brien. “We were asked to go back to our county board and ask them to accept the agreement in principle. I said at the meeting last Saturday that since this dispute started 10 years ago, people’s concerns were about the amateur status of the GAA and the volunteer ethic. In the overall agreement, the recognition of the GPA is granted but also, the GPA will recognise that amateur status and volunteer ethic. And we all welcome anything that will help our intercounty players.”

On Monday, Of One Belief, the pressure group that vigorously opposed the introduction of the Irish Sports Council grants two years ago, also issued a media statement trenchantly opposing the allocation of €1.1 million GAA funds to support GPA player welfare projects as well as the €500,000 in administration grants to cover this and next year.

The Munster Council, meanwhile, have agreed the venues for some of their big clashes in next year’s provincial football and hurling championships, although the actual dates won’t be agreed until next week.

In football, All-Ireland champions Kerry will be on home soil in Killarney for their Munster semi-final against Cork – assuming they beat Tipperary in Thurles in the first round. The replay, should it be required, would go back to Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Waterford will have home advantage for the other first round tie against Clare.

In the other semi-final, Limerick will be at home to Clare, if Clare progress, and away to Waterford, if Waterford progress. If it happens to be a Kerry-Limerick final it will be played in Limerick.

In hurling, beaten All-Ireland finalists Tipperary must go to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for their first-round meeting against Cork. Should Cork progress, they will play Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh; if Tipperary progress, they will play Limerick in Thurles.

The other semi-final between Clare and Waterford will be played in Thurles.