Duffy slams Ulster ‘mercenary’

THE GAA’s director general has stoked up the controversy on under-the-counter payments to managers by claiming a “well known mercenary” manager in Ulster received £30,000 to take charge of a county side.

Páraic Duffy may come under pressure to name and shame the individual after suggesting in Dublin yesterday he was aware of the details of the case.

Mr Duffy said the “biggest single most difficult issue” facing the body was “under-the-counter payments” to football managers. And he claimed an Ulster manager, “a well known mercenary”, had been paid £30,000, not directly from the GAA. “but from two well-known businessmen”.

GAA spokesman Fergal McGill said Mr Duffy stood over the remarks but pointed out that the details related to an incident several years ago and did not involve any manager currently involved with an inter-county team.

“It is most important to note that the director general was not saying that anyone in the GAA had paid a manager £30,000 – it was two private businessmen, outside of the Association, who were alleged to have been financing the manager in question,” he said. “This is a very important distinction. Furthermore, and just to be absolutely clear, there is no suggestion whatsoever that any of the current managers of Ulster counties were being referred to in this anecdote.”

Mr Duffy said a remark by the director general that Ulster counties were the biggest culprits, had “been taken completely out of context”. He said the comment had been made in the context of opposition to the Government’s player grants scheme and alluded to “the ironic fact” that the most stringent opposition to the scheme had come from within Ulster.

Mr McGill said: “There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that some managers in the province are being recompensed in a manner that may not be in keeping with the GAA’s rules on amateur status and is in excess of the expense allowances provided for managers. The problem of manager’s receiving payments in excess of that allowed for under expense payments is one for the association generally and there is absolutely nothing to suggest that the problem is more acute in any particular county or province.”

Meanwhile, Galway captain Ollie Canning has paid tribute to fellow full back, Diarmuid O’Sullivan, who called it a day, understands why the decision was made.

“I guess he just thought it was time and when you’ve had enough, it’s the right the thing to do,” said Canning.

“He was a very strong player who had a great presence around the goals. He was so tough. A number of things stand out. I remember a great point from miles out the field when he bounced off a guy and then landed it over from inside his own half.

“And then there was the All-Ireland against Kilkenny, when lads were bouncing off him left, right and centre. He never backed down, always gave 100%.”

O’Sullivan was a hero of the Cork support, earning his iconic status from an early age when he’d win possession, take a shoulder and drive the sliotar as far as he could.

Such regular occurrences drew loud acclaim from the terraces and according to Canning, would also prove inspirational to team-mates.

“He was great at that and the supporters loved it. When the supporters react like that, the players will react too. He would remind you of Brian Lohan in that way, coming out of a ruck of players and clearing the ball to a loud roar.

“I met him a few times off the pitch and he was a sound, genuine guy. His heart was in the right place and I wish him well.”