GAA chief attacks ‘sneaky’ bootlegging deal

THE GAA was last night embroiled in a bitter marketing row with a beer company after two Cork hurlers illegally advertised the product on their boots during Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Waterford.

Attackers Kieran Murphy of Sarsfields and Niall McCarthy of Carrigtwohill face a possible All-Ireland semi-final ban, and the Cork County Board a substantial fine, after details of the deal with the Corona brand emerged yesterday.

The deal breaches GAA regulations on endorsements and is especially embarrassing for the association given its lucrative sponsorship deal with Guinness.

GAA president Sean Kelly reacted furiously to the “sneaky behaviour” of the company.

Describing their behaviour as “leech-like”, he said he did not want to give them any additional publicity, but stressed the GAA would deal with the breach of regulations as ruthlessly as possible.

“This type of behaviour is contrary to our clearly stated rules, and totally against the commercial etiquette we practice. It is ambush marketing of the worst kind.”

Cork GAA chairman Jim Forbes also blasted Corona.

“This is a very cheap trick by someone trying to extract as much publicity as possible for giving a paltry sum of money to players.”

The Cork chairman accepted the players were partly culpable but insisted they were also “victims” in the affair.

“I am certain for what they (Corona) put into it, they will get a massive return in terms of hype and that is the tragedy of this situation,” Mr Forbes said.

“If they want to plough money into the GAA, why don’t they do it through the proper channels? They were grossly irresponsible in approaching the players.”

Neither Mr Forbes nor the Cork management was aware of the deal prior to Sunday’s game.

However, the GPA’s Donal O’Neill insisted there were no grounds for sanctions against either player.