Weekend pass to US gets the axe

NEW YORK GAA chiefs have axed all "weekend pass" excursions from Ireland for the country's top Gaelic footballers.

The shock move was taken at a meeting of clubs in New York on Thursday night, and has been described by GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell as "a major disappointment" for players here.

Said Farrell: "I must admit, I'm taken aback by the news. I had heard that something like this was on the cards, but didn't expect that it would come from New York itself.