GAA cut deal with Cork players to end strike

GAA chiefs in Cork last night brokered a deal with the county’s hurlers and footballers to end their historic two-week strike.

Players' representatives recommended acceptance of the revised county board package to their colleagues on the hurling and football panels.

The move followed a three-hour meeting between members of the board's executive and 10 hurlers and footballers at Cork's Silversprings Hotel.

Players' spokesman Joe Deane said that their strike action had led directly to considerable concessions from the GAA in Cork.

It is understood that major progress was made on a number of key player grievances with a pledge from GAA chiefs to pursue national issues such as expenses and reimbursement for time lost at work.

The executive board vowed to put in place improved structures for gym use, diet, training, travel and gear. County board chairman Jim Forbes led the board executive and said he was relieved and happy that the stand-off had ended.

"Dialogue is always important, and I'm confident we can have a new coach training the Cork hurlers early next month," he added.

Football team spokesman Ronan McCarthy said they had also resolved their grievances with the board and would be returning to training under coach Larry Tompkins whenever required.

He says the Cork hurlers and footballers took an important stand on behalf of inter-county players across the country. After negotiations concluded with board management, the players met with over 20 other members of the county's hurling and football panels to ratify the package.

The striking hurlers and footballers went into the meeting demanding real movement from Cork GAA chiefs. The players' negotiating committee went into the meeting around 6.30pm last night with the county board to look for considerable progress on several issues.

The two-week strike had centred on the players' demands for compensation for loss of earnings.

Their other demands included all members of a training panel be supplied with proper training equipment as well as paid membership of a gym.

They also wanted 20 free stand tickets for championship matches to be made available and a better standard of food. They also demanded a doctor be present at all games and a physiotherapist be present during training sessions and matches.