A on collision course with Croke Park over plans to form new players’ body

THE GPA has reiterated that it will boycott any election to form a new players’ body controlled by Croke Park, which President Sean Kelly confirmed recently he was anxious to form.

As it said in its AGM last January, the GPA will not take any part in electing players to this body, a move that will be a blow to the integrity of Kelly’s new group, and may open a fissure in the relationship between the GAA and the GPA, which was improving as of late.

“The GPA has grown dramatically in stature and confidence since its inception, fuelled by the very simple but fundamental principle that players’ are entitled to objective representation,” the players’ body said in a terse statement yesterday.

“The motion passed unanimously at our 2003 AGM to boycott elections for a new Croke Park controlled players body, firmly reasserted the players’ conviction that their interests are best served through the autonomous forum of the GPA. The message to Croke Park is clear. The players from whom you seek co-operation do not support the principle or the objective of these elections.”

The GPA pointed out that it was meaningless for the GAA to set up a rival body when they are looking after players’ needs adequately.

“The players whom you seek to acknowledge and represent have themselves sought and established a valid mandate through the GPA,” they stated. “We do not wish for, or require the establishment of another players’ committee.

“In an era of unprecedented and demonstrable player confidence, attempts to unfairly control and dictate to players will meet with individual and collective disapproval through the forum of the GPA.

“The association will continue to agitate and assert itself on behalf Of our members, and we look forward to very publicly demonstrating our resources, commitment and intent through soon to be announced initiatives with enormous longer term implications for player welfare.”

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has delayed naming his team for Sunday’s Ulster Football final replay due to a deepening injury crisis.

Full-back Colin Holmes continues to struggle for fitness, and to compound the defensive dilemma, his replacement last Sunday, Chris Lawn, is extremely doubtful.

If both men fail to make the cut, Ciaran Gourley could be in line for a starting slot. Attackers Gerard Cavlan and Stephen O’Neill also missed last Sunday’s game with groin and ankle injuries respectively, and are doubtful for the rematch.

Harte said that aside from injuries, his players face a big task in trying to recover from the energy-sapping effects of last weekend’s encounter.

“The heat and the intensity of the game certainly would be draining on any player, and that will be a factor in the replay, whether they will be able to maintain that level for another 70 minutes so soon afterwards.”

Meanwhile, Ed Donnelly was elected public relations officer for the Tipperary County Board on Tuesday evening in Thurles. He replaces Liz Howard who had served as PRO for the past 20 years.

Donnelly and Howard were tied on 52 votes apiece after the election. The onus in deciding a winner in such a scenario fell to the county chairman Donie Shanahan.

Under the circumstances, the chairman felt the best way to decide the matter on the night was to put the two names in a glass and whichever name would come out would be the winner. Donnelly’s name was drawn first.