GAA opens the money floodgates

THE recent decision by the management committee of the GAA to fast-track the opening of Croke Park to rugby and soccer games from February 2007 has hastened the arrival of semi-professionalism or pay-for-play in the GAA.

By allowing these games to be played in Croke Park, the GAA has sold its soul and exclusivity to commercialism and is set to pay a heavy price.

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) is now insisting on pay-for-play in some form or other for inter-county hurlers and footballers, and it will be successful in the long run.