Farrell to represent players on Central Council

DESSIE FARRELL was yesterday nominated as the new players' representative on Central Council by GAA president Seán Kelly.

The Dublin footballer is in line to become the first player to sit on the council since the departure of Jarlath Burns, who also headed the now disbanded Players' Advisory Group, in 2003. Farrell was nominated by a nationwide poll of almost 2,000 inter-county players, and Kelly welcomed the development in a statement issued by Croke Park yesterday, saying he "was sure that Dessie would make a positive contribution to Central Council's role in the association."

However, one official said: "it is important to point out that Dessie is a players' representative and not a GPA one but, in fairness, I think he understands that and he will be a very good representative on the Central Council."