GPA seek player recognition

THE GPA are to enter negotiations with GAA president-elect Sean Kelly with regard to player recognition at official level during his three-year term in office.

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell, speaking in Dublin yesterday after the presentation of bursaries to 12 third-level students, admitted the issue has yet to be resolved.

But he seems hopeful a positive resolution can be reached in the coming months.

"Sean Kelly is sending out all the right signals to date," he said. "We have a fairly crucial meeting with them (GAA) as regards the format of player representation for the next three years, so there is still some negotiation to be done on that particular point."

Recalling that it had been mooted that the GPA would come in under the wing of the GAA as the official voice of players, Farrell pointed out that this idea had been unanimously rejected at their annual meeting.

"From that point of view the ball is very much in Croke Park's court now. It could be said, do we need official recognition, from the point of view that for the last 12 months we have been sitting across the table with the top administrators in the association. I think it's recognition in name and token only," he commented.

In general, he said that the past 12 months had been very good for the GPA, commenting: "By and large people have come to realise that we can bring an awful lot more to the party than just clamouring from the rooftops about financial issues."

Yesterday, in Parnell Park, Farrell announced the names of the 12 students who will each receive 500 bursaries and playing gear, in the company of John Molloy, managing director of sponsors Azzurri.

The recipients eight footballers, three hurlers and a ladies' footballer include some well-known inter-county players, notably Joe Bergin, Paddy Bradley, Kevin Cassidy, Ronan Clarke and Brian Geary.

Farrell explained that it was an extension of their inaugural three-year scholarship scheme and specific to talented school-leavers.

"This is a three-year programme, which is on-going and we did not envisage doing it again.

"But we realised that an awful lot of our own members who are very deserving of assistance, were left out of the loop. For that reason we decided to try and facilitate them," he said.

Meanwhile, Farrell also came out in support of Tommy Lyons and his management team, who were roundly criticised after Sunday's Allianz League defeat by Cork in Parnell Park.

Lyons became involved in a bout of verbals with one home supporter after the irate fan expressed his opinions on the weekend fare. Then, at the final whistle, one of the Dublin selectors allegedly squirted water at the particular supporter.

Farrell was disappointed by the incident, which he admits was not isolated. "We have seen that in the past. I have seen it in Mickey Whelan's time and in Tommy Carr's time and on Sunday again. It's disappointing to see, because everybody going out there is doing their best, be they players or management.

"You can see how fans would get frustrated from time to time, but they have short memories. From my recollection it was a good summer for Dublin."

Farrell is recovering from surgery on his shoulder, resulting from an injury sustained in last year's All-Ireland championship game against Donegal, and made a comeback in a challenge with Na Fianna at the weekend.

However, while he is keen to resurrect his inter-county career, he admits to being unsure at this stage if it will happen for him.

"That will be dependant on management, whether they want me back or not," he said.

* The following are recipients of bursaries: Joe Bergin (Galway/Mayo IT), Paddy Bradley (Jordanstown), Kevin Cassidy (GMIT), Ronan Clarke (St Mary's, Belfast), Dick Clerkin (Queens), Gearoid Considine (Limerick IT), Brian Dowling (Waterford IT), Conall Dunne (Queens), Adrian Fleming (UCD), Brian Geary (Limerick University), Alan Mulhall (Waterford IT), Michelle Ross (Waterford IT).