GPA ‘not milking the game’

THE internecine dispute between the GAA and GPA may rumble on, but one matter was once and for all put to bed yesterday — the executive of the players’ body has no desire to see Gaelic games go semi-professional.

With the GPA seeking tax breaks and now Government sports grants for inter-county players, it was suggested that such entitlements would represent the opening salvo in the war to end the amateur status.

However, semi-professionalism was not mentioned in the GPA's six demands made yesterday and GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell hopes the issue can be crossed off the agenda.