Ciaran Whelan (Dublin footballer)

"Almost all other sports have a players' award voted by the players, so it's great that we now have one of our own. And it's good that we can get together and get to know each other.

"Obviously our main focus at the moment is the championship. But it's a good deal for us and I don't see any worries about a conflict. We're hoping to get a broader membership all the time, but we also welcome the new players' group proposals that have come out of Croke Park.

"This is a players' body and everything it does is for the benefit of the players."

Brian Corcoran Cork hurler

"There's no reason why the GPA and the GAA's players' group can't work together. In many ways one can put pressure on the other, and that wouldn't happen if the GPA didn't exist.

"Each player got six passes for the league final last Sunday, and that's something which mightn't have happened otherwise. The players' group had been very slow to move in the past, so I think that suggests something."

Conal Bonnar Tipperary hurler

"We know that all the players will be invited to the player-of-the-year function but in the past you didn't know. That's a rare occasion to meet other players and always a good time."