Brennan: GPA ‘certain’ to get official recognition very soon

OFFICIAL recognition of the Gaelic Players’ Association is a certainty in the near future, GAA President Nickey Brennan confirmed last night.

At this stage, it’s just a question of when it happens, he told delegates at last night’s Leinster Convention in Kinnegad, saying it was always one of his aims to see negotiations reach a successful conclusion before he finishes his term.

“A lot of discussions have taken place recently and they are at a delicate stage, so I don’t intend going into them tonight,” said Brennan.

“They have been frank but very fair and I have been very happy with how they have developed. We have to wait and see what might transpire in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“But certainly whether it happens on my watch or whatever, the association will recognise the players’ body at some stage in the very near future. I think it is in our interest, for the very simple reason that dealing with people inside an organisation is certainly much easier than dealing with an external body that you have no formal relationship with.”

At a more general level, Brennan emphasised the importance of county boards having “good, trusting and respectful relationships” with their county panels. “If you have that, you will not have difficulties because you are coming up to a scene now where every county is going to have to cut back on the level of expenditure on inter-county teams this year,” he explained.

“I would strongly urge that you sit down with your inter-county players now and explain that this is going to be necessary so they fully understand what’s going on. It’s better to do it now so that they clearly understand the areas you are going to cut back. One thing is certain: you have to cut back.’’

Pointing out that at central level, they were budgeting for a €6 million shortfall this year, he said that their situation could be eased if the possible Munster/Leinster Heineken Cup semi-final (already approved for Croke Park) materialises.

The bottom line is that counties can expect reduced finance from central funds this year. “We just can’t give out money that we haven’t brought in,” he added.

Apart from the address from Brennan, presentations were made by Rules Revision Committee chairman Liam O’Neill and Head of Communications, Lisa Clancy.

Secretary Michael Delaney introduced a note of levity to the proceedings in response to the lack of questions from the floor on his report. Commenting that he had noticed over the years that “not too many people” read it, he said he had taken to including “a deliberate mistake” in it for a few years.

“This year, I wrote Carlow lost the All-Ireland U-21 ‘B’ final to Kerry, whereas in fact Carlow won the title,” he said. “Tonight I’d like to heartily congratulate them on their victory.”

Dublin delegate Jim Roche pointed out another error: Meath were credited with winning the Leinster junior football title. Delaney admitted the error, adding Dublin also won the All-Ireland and the captain’s parents came from his own village in Laois.

* The Leinster Council’s new PRO is JJ Walsh from Kildare. A native of Mayo, he was elected after three counts, defeating Paddy Kelly from Meath by 51 votes to 41.