Brennan backing player endorsements

Nickey Brennan has reiterated his intention to extend player endorsement opportunities during his term as GAA president. Speaking at yesterday's announcement of a two-year extension to Toyota's All-Ireland and league sponsorship deal, Brennan also hinted at an improved relationship with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA).

Toyota will continue to give a Corolla car to each of the All-Ireland finalists in both football and hurling, and to the winners of the club and league championships, until the end of 2008. Since its introduction three years ago the scheme - which typically sees the cars auctioned - has raised €555,000 for players' funds across the country.

"I made it clear when taking over as president that in any sponsorship deal we make we would bring players on board as well," said Brennan. "The Toyota deal supports that in that it will directly benefit the players, and our key motivation now is that any sponsorship would benefit the players, and also as good a spread of players as possible.

"We are fully conscious of the enormous input players have to our association, and you only have to think about the sell-out crowd in Croke Park on Sunday to realise that. Lots of initiatives around the country depend on big games like that, and that's down to the players, and we will be coming out and having a further say on that later in the year."

Brennan identified player welfare as one of his main challenges when taking over as president in April, outlining initiatives of his own. That process has involved engaging with the GPA and their own demands to improve player welfare.

"I have met the GPA on three occasions since taking over as president," explained Brennan. "I think it says something that Central Council have only met once during that time, and Management Committee twice, so that shows how seriously committed we are to player welfare issues.

"We have agreed with the GPA to keep those discussions close to our chests for the time being, but I can say those meetings have been very cordial, and our relationship is solid. We have been discussing the various points raised by the GPA, and it's my intention to have that relationship on an even firmer footing going forward."

Two intercounty footballers, Ciarán McManus of Offaly and Declan Meehan of Galway, were also in Croke Park to directly endorse the Toyota sponsorship. Though both aged 30, it's clear they're not staying on in the game just for a few small perks like this one. Meehan has won every honour in the game - including All-Irelands with Galway in 1998 and 2001 - and as long as the thrill is there he'll keep on playing.

"It's the enjoyment most of all," he says. "I'm looking forward to another Connacht final and maybe the thrill of running out on to Croke Park again. And I suppose I still feel there are more medals to be won, and maybe even better performances to come.

"You'd be conscious you're around for a while, all right. There are two sides to that. One, that you have the experience but, two, that you're trying to hang on to your place. There is a lot of competition on the Galway team, and that's a good thing."

Meehan, however, still holds his place at right wing back for Sunday's Connacht final against Mayo. And that, he says, is for now the only ambition of this Galway team, despite their recent success on the All-Ireland stage.

"And we know to win on Sunday we'll have to be a lot more consistent over the 70 minutes than some recent games. That's really been Galway's problem lately."

The Leinster Council yesterday confirmed all tickets for Sunday's Leinster final between Dublin and Offaly in Croke Park have been sold. There will not be any ticket sales in the vicinity of the grounds either tomorrow or Sunday.