GPA to seek compensation for players if championship games fixed on Fridays

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has warned against the scheduling of any Friday evening championship matches until the issue of player compensation is properly addressed.

All four provinces are this week agreeing the dates and venues for their 2015 football and hurling championships, as part of the GAA's master fixture plan. The Leinster Council meet this evening with the most complicated scheduling task of the four provinces, given the number of counties involved in both football and hurling, and with that in mind are open to the option of offering counties a Friday evening date in the first round of the football championship, given the close proximity of the counties involved.

Offaly were drawn to play Longford, and Laois against Carlow, in the opening rounds, although Dessie Farrell, chief executive of the GPA, believes a proper consultation process on the subject of Friday evening games is still required.

Properly addressed

“The idea of Friday evening games has been mooted again, but fundamental to that is the issue of player compensation,” said Farrell. “And as far as the GPA are concerned, that issue has yet to be properly addressed.

“It’s important to point out that we are, in principal, behind the idea of exploring Friday evening games for the championship. But that idea has to be explored in more detail, and especially with proper consultation with the counties and players involved.

“Because you can’t ask players to line out for a championship match on a Friday evening without asking how it impacts on their careers or education. It’s definitely not a case of making a decision on this, and then just running with it. There needs to be due diligence, especially when it comes to the stakeholders.

“And that means the issue of compensation is unavoidable, if players are expected to take time off work. The championship is the blue ribbon competition, and much different to a club or underage fixture. Even if it’s only a handful of players in each panel.

“So while in essence we do like the idea, it does bring some challenges, and we haven’t been engaged any further on the matter. It’s something we would be happy to explore, with the Leinster Council, but again the players would have to be engaged on it too.”

Friday night games is not the only matter up for debate by the Leinster Council this evening: there is also the matter of whether or not Dublin gain an unfair advantage by playing all their games in Croke Park.

Direct clash

And when it comes to fixing any game in Croke Park, the Leinster Council is also keen to avoid a direct clash with the Republic of Ireland’s soccer friendly against England, which is already scheduled for the evening of Sunday, June 7th, at the Aviva Stadium.

"We would be aware of that game, yes," said Michael Reynolds, acting CEO of the Leinster Council.

“And the way this year has fallen, we would be looking at three Sundays, the May 31st, June 7th, and June 14th, to accommodate a lot of our games. But it would also depend on the way things fall, and whether or not we opt for double-headers in Croke Park, or somewhere else.

“We’re also aware that the Republic of Ireland are playing Scotland the following Saturday, too, at the Aviva.

“What happens is the counties come with us, with suggestions, or preferences, and we would try to consider them all. So everything would be open for discussion, really.

“It’s always hard to know what counties might suggest. Last November, for example, there was a suggestion from one county that Dublin should be taken out of Croke Park for their opening game, but no other counties came out in support of that . . .