GPA to ballot members on panels

THE controversial Congress decision to reduce county senior panels to 24, which the Gaelic Players Association vigorously opposes, would not have been pursued if team managers had been consulted.

GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell suggested this after the annual meeting in Tullamore, when he described as 'spurious' the argument put forward by Task Force Chairman Padraic Duffy that the measure would free up more players to help their clubs.

Farrell also maintained that while GAA President Sean Kelly was very amenable to the plight of players, he would be more proactive if he wasn't limited by the constraints of the office.