O’Hara: players are prepared to strike

SLIGO midfielder Eamonn O’Hara has warned inter-county players are prepared to go on strike if they fail to receive adequate funding under the Government grants scheme.

GAA stars are facing a massive cut in their scheme after Minister for Sport Martin Cullen last week announced a proposed cut of €2.5m from the funding to leading hurlers and footballers.

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell slammed the plan as ‘elitist’ and ‘utterly despicable’, with Sligo GPA representative O’Hara insisting that it was a slap in the face.

O’Hara has stressed that players wish to avoid the nuclear option of strike at all costs, but states that strike action will become inevitable if talks between the GPA, the GAA and the Government do not generate a breakthrough.

“It we have to go on strike, we will go on strike – that’s the bottom line. That option was mentioned before and I’m sure it’ll be mentioned again.

“It’s not something any player would want, but if it comes to it – and I sincerely hope it doesn’t – we would be prepared to take strike action. We’re getting a slap in the face. This is not all about money. There’s a very important point of principle here and players are not going to allow themselves to be bullied into submission.”

Meanwhile Dublin hopes of an All-Ireland hurling quarter-final breakthrough have been hit by the loss of rising star defender Oisín Gough. The corner-back broke his thumb during Dublin’s Leinster U-21 final defeat to Kilkenny at Parnell Park on Wednesday night.

It’s estimated the injury will keep him out for six weeks meaning he’ll definitely miss the All-Ireland quarter-final next weekend and a possible All-Ireland semi-final date against Tipperary on August 16th. Fellow senior Simon Lambert also limped out of the U21 game with a muscle strain but is expected to be fit for the senior clash.

Gough could be replaced in a rejigged defence by star St Vincent’s centre-back Ronan Fallon who is available after a long-term foot injury while Limerick native Maurice O’Brien may also come into the reckoning. Dublin will face the winners of tomorrow’s Phase 3 qualifier between Limerick and Laois in the quarter-finals.