Offaly star Coughlan wades in behind GPA cash call

OFFALY midfielder Neville Coughlan has lent his support to the Gaelic Players' Association's drive for greater financial assistance for GAA players.

Former dual star Coughlan is gearing up for tomorrow's O'Byrne Cup final against Meath at Páirc Tailteann, Navan (2.15pm).

It's only January, but already there's silverware at stake, so training has been intense under boss Kevin Kilmurray.

On top of that, Coughlan works as a brick layer and the physical nature of the job makes it difficult to stay fresh for football. Throw in the fact that he only dropped hurling last year to focus on football and you could forgive any signs of fatigue.

It's his exact situation that the GPA have been so keen to highlight as proof that their members deserve financial assistance.

The players' representative body are pushing hard for the introduction of a sports grant scheme for inter-county players.

Coughlan has backed the call as a necessary development if the GAA want to keep top players operating at the highest levels.

"I would be all for the idea of assisting players financially," said Coughlan.

"As the years go on, it's getting harder and harder to be an inter-county player.

"More and more players will be retiring before they are 30 because of the intense training they're doing. I would love to see that acknowledged by the GAA or the Government with some sort of financial assistance."

Coughlan gave an insight into the exact fitness of top GAA players.

"I would imagine guys like Ciaran McManus and Owen Mulligan from Tyrone could easily adapt to competitive athletics. I watch Ciaran in training and he can run 200, 300 and 400 metre sprints as fast as anyone. When you throw in the really hard hits, the training and the day jobs, then you can see why players deserve something back."

For now, all Coughlan can do is continue his labour of love - and help Offaly to a seventh O'Byrne Cup title tomorrow, a first since 1998.

"At the beginning of the O'Byrne Cup, we made an agreement as a panel to try and win the competition," revealed Coughlan. "You'll always get a tough game from Meath but we've come this far and don't want to lose."

If Offaly are to be successful, much will rest on Coughlan's shoulders at midfield. Last year he started each of their championship games in attack but has utilised in midfield in each of their three O'Byrne Cup outings so far.

"It's a new position for me with Offaly though I've played a bit there with my club," said Coughlan, a Leinster hurling finalist in 2004. "It would be great to make it because it's seen as a pivotal position, where you can really get into the heart of the game."