Kelly plays down Cusack recognition claims

GAA President Sean Kelly has played down the need to formally recognise the Gaelic Player’s Association, despite new GPA chairman Donal Óg Cusack’s warning that “direct acton” may be required to force the issue in the coming year.

Cork hurling goalkeeper Cusack intimated that unless motions recognising the GPA’s rights and conditions were put forward by the GAA at Congress, then the players would have to act.

That seemed to contradict the earlier speech of GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell, who played down the need for official recognition, claiming the organisation was already the de facto official players’ body.