Farrell takes Geraghty to task over GPA claims

GPA CHIEF executive Dessie Farrell has refuted claims made by Graham Geraghty that the players’ body took four years to make an approach to the Meath footballers.

In his autobiography, to be launched tonight in Athboy, Geraghty is critical of the GPA. But according to Farrell, the Meath team “received more representations than any other panel in the country”, before finally agreeing to join the players’ body last month.

“Overall, their lack of consultation is very unprofessional,” Geraghty said. “Maybe they genuinely overlooked us, but it all seems rather bizarre.”

Responding, Farrell stated: “He obviously has misunderstood the situation because we have been trying to recruit Meath from day one. At different times, four players and two past players, were contacted about joining, while the manager was consulted on three separate occasions.

"Apart from that, we have been publicly looking for new members continuously and we’re now delighted to have Meath on board. We look forward to working with them in the future.”

Meanwhile, the Ulster GAA Writers have picked Steven McDonnell as their Ulster Footballer of the Year while Antrim’s Brian McFall picked up the hurling award.

It was a vote of confidence for the Killeavy star after he had been amazingly overlooked for the Texaco Award.

The award can now be put alongside the GPA Footballer of the Year he picked up last week and he is odds on favourite for the Allstar Player of the Year next week.

Pat McEneaney was again voted Referee of the Year while Paul Brady and Fionan Shannon were joint winners of the Handballer of the Year.

Antrim’s efficient PRO Terry Cormican won the Communications Award.