GPA seal unique €500,000 deal with C&C

THERE was a buzz in Croke Park yesterday as the GPA and C&C announced details of their 10-year agreement.

The players' Association hopes it will herald a new phase in their development, with the deal projected to generate €500,000 for the GPA over the next three years.

GPA commercial director Donal O'Neill says the deal done with the drinks company, to promote their new energy drink Club Energiser, is unique in global sports, asserting as it does ownership of players' image rights. The partnership is also performance-related.