A new era dawns as GPA question nears end game

NEWS that the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association have agreed a formal process for dialogue in the next couple of weeks is hardly a shock, given recent faint noises in the background.

Distinguishing between hitherto ‘informal’ talks and the ‘formal’ discussions of the future may just be splitting hairs, or it may be a case of putting any Mayo footballers who rock up for the talks on notice that the dress code does not cover tributes to recently deceased music legends. You never know.

Given the long-standing frost between both sides, a sudden thaw was always unlikely, but as we pointed out here a few weeks ago, the end game has been in sight for some time, despite some sound and fury emanating from the player side. It was always likely when Pauric Duffy took over from Liam Mulvihill.