GPA and Croke Park gear up for historic accord

Brendan O’Brien

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell has stressed the need for the two bodies to cooperate on commercial matters, but without any success.

Yesterday in Croke Park, GAA President Sean Kelly broke with previous protocol by attending an Azzurri hurling helmet launch, with which the GPA was intimately involved.

His presence in the Hogan Stand suite proved to be more than symbolic however, with Kelly accepting that Croke Park’s relationship with the GPA was about to move into a new phase. Kelly said such progress was “not far down the road”.

He said: “We’ve already given approval to that whole process. Our marketing section will be sitting down with the GPA just to see how things will pan out, basically.

“I can’t anticipate what will happen but obviously, to make any kind of progress you have to discuss matters. It should be happening over the next few months.

“We are all part of the one GAA family and anything that can benefit players we want to be part of. Obviously, we have to do so within the guidelines of our rules, particularly within our amateur status.”

The GAA and the players’ body have aggravated each other in the past in the commercial area, particularly when both launched their own telecom deals last year.

Kelly has attempted to extend the hand of friendship recently however, stating at congress that the GPA was effectively here to stay, while also formally welcoming Farrell on to the Central Council at yesterday’s launch.

With only eight months left of his presidency, there will be only so much progress he can make on the issue and it remains to be seen what stance President-elect Nicky Brennan takes in relation to the still unofficial players’ organisation.

Greater cooperation with the GPA is also certain to meet with stern opposition from many elements within Croke Park.

Though he expressed his delight at Kelly’s presence at the launch, Farrell pointed out that the GAA’s Marketing Report was recently published without GPA or player involvement.

“It’s not as though we’ve got into any commercial arrangements with the GAA yet,” warned the Dublin footballer.

“That still eludes us. We believe the cooperative model will create a bigger pie with bigger slices for everyone.”

Though his time in office may be winding down, there is no sign of Kelly easing out of the position in the months to come.

Yesterday, he said the appointment of a national hurling director was imminent and he gave notice of a joint GAA-Department of Justice campaign against binge-drinking.

He also defended the decision to stage the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cup finals, rather than minor games, before the All-Ireland hurling semi-finals over the last few weeks.

“I have no apologies to anyone with regard to the Rackard and Ring Cups in Croke Park. Players who never had any recognition, hope or little encouragement had something concrete to aim for this year.

“The minors mainly come from the stronger counties and they will have plenty more days in Croke Park to aim for.”

Kelly also responded to a call by Dublin chairman John Bailey for the GAA to cut ticket prices for replays.

“I would like to see us looking at a situation where we could draw up a budget. Having reached that budget, we would then look at how we could spend the excess.

“There are two ways of looking at it. You could obviously reduce the price on tickets for fans but it might be more effective to send the money back down to grassroots, to schools and clubs in particular. That might be more appreciated and more effective.”

Kelly also defended the GAA’s insistence on all playing gear being of Irish manufacture.

The president welcomed the introduction of companies like Azzurri and Gaelic Gear into the GAA market over the last few years, alongside traditional kit providers O’Neill’s.

“There are those who think the GAA’s Irish-only rule in relation to manufacturers of our gear is wrong. The Competition Authority might disagree at times, but this is further evidence that we do have competition.

“Azzurri and Gaelic Gear joining the market is good for choice and justifies our backing of Irish-only companies.”