GPA slam Limerick Board

LIMERICK GAA bosses were last night embroiled in a row with the GPA over the treatment of the county’s senior football side.

The GPA yesterday condemned the County Board for the “disgraceful treatment” of the senior football squad prior to a pre-championship training trip to La Manga, Spain.

The GPA allege that a member of the U21 team who impressed the senior selectors in the Munster championship, had been invited, but was forced to give up his seat on the plane to accommodate an extra county board official.

The GPA also claimed that having committed to the camp in lieu of a team holiday in 2004, the Limerick squad subsequently generated almost 50% of the funding required for the training week.

The statement said: “Despite their full entitlements to playing gear as provided for by Central Council guidelines, the players received only one t-shirt each for the trip.

“Those players unable to attend, including 15 year squad veteran John Quane, were even refused this meagre gesture.”

However Limerick Board chairman Denis Holmes challenged the GPA’s claims describing their comments as “a most disappointing statement to make when the full facts weren’t known.”

He stressed: “It’s also not correct to say that the squad had raised 50% of the cost of the trip. The squad were not involved, only the team management were, and just one member”, he said.

“On the question of training gear, my understanding is that the footballers got exactly the same as the hurlers did when they travelled out a few weeks ago. This is the first I’ve heard that there was a problem. Surely if there was a problem the time to resolve it was before the footballers went to La Manga and not while they are out there.

“In relation to the U21 player who dropped out, because we had players coming home early and other players going out late, the county board needed an officer out there to see that everything went smoothly, hence the reason why a second officer accompanied the squad out. There is no extra official on the trip.”

The County PRO Denis O’Carroll backed his chairman. “There was never a team holiday planned for 2004. The squad did not generate 50% of the cost. One member of the management team generated finance realising 25% of the cost,” he said.

On the issue of playing gear he said: “Players received what was requested by the football board for the party going to La Manga. There is no guideline issued by central council for gear for trips but in relation to Central Council guidelines on gear for senior panels this was met and agreed by the captains and liaison officers of both senior panels.”

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell, speaking on RTÉ Radio last night, reaffirmed the comments made in their earlier statement.

“Members of the Limerick football squad were on to us prior to they leaving on the trip, criticising their county board for the treatment meted out to the U21 player who was forced to drop out”, said Farrell.

“The reason the matter was raised AFTER the squad went out on the trip was because the players feared the trip would be cancelled if they did so before hand.

“That’s an unacceptable situation from our point of view. In relation to the monies gathered for the trip, I’m assured by the Limerick footballers that they, through a number of business contacts they have, gathered up to 50% of the fund. In relation to the sports gear supplied to the footballers, a Limerick senior hurler assures me that they received shorts, training tee shirts, vest tops, and a Limerick replica training jersey.

“The footballers would not have gone down this particular road if their hurling colleagues had been given just a tee shirt like they were given.

“I’ve no reason to disbelieve the players. I would suggest that the Limerick County Board chairman should go back and do his homework on this particular issue.”

On learning of the squad’s predicament, Club Energise subsequently provided a full range of training kit for the players and management team.