Tipperary delegates back GPA agreement

FORMER Tipperary chairman John Costigan revealed that “one of the best discussions the county board has had this year” took place in Thurles before delegates gave the interim agreement a resounding thumbs up.

Costigan joined current Tipp chairman Barry O’Brien for discussions on the new deal at Croke Park last Saturday, prior to the groundbreaking announcement that the GPA has received formal recognition from the GAA.

O’Brien, who invited comment and debate from the floor on Tuesday evening, has also thrown his full support behind the partnership between the GAA and the players’ group.

“It’s good news from Tipperary for the GAA and everybody within the GAA, including the GPA,” said O’Brien.

“I said at the meeting last Saturday that, since this dispute started 10 years ago, people’s concerns were about the amateur status of the GAA and the volunteer ethic.

“In the overall agreement, the recognition of the GPA is granted but also, the GPA will recognise that amateur status and volunteer ethic.

“Also, the GAA will undertake, in the long term, to totally fund the GPA who will become the group within the association looking after player welfare for our inter-county players.

“And we all welcome anything that will help our inter-county players.”

Meanwhile Donegal’s long-serving central council delegate Brian McEniff has welcomed the weekend interim-agreement between the GAA and the GPA.

McEniff, who is giving up his position on the GAA’s governing body under rule having completed 16 years at central council level and is tipped to be replaced by former player Martin McHugh at next month’s annual county convention, insists maintaining the amateur ethos is paramount.

“It was only a matter of when, rather than if, that the two sides were going to come together,” said McEniff, who also managed Donegal to their 1992 All-Ireland success. “Now that the amateur status ethos is enshrined in the GPA constitution, we hopefully can look forward to a long and fruitful relationship.

“I have got to know [GPA chief executive] Dessie Farrell very well through meeting him at central council meetings. He is a very sensible and genuine GAA man. The GPA have put quite an amount of time and effort into bringing it to the situation where they were in a position to announce on Saturday that their negotiations had reached a successful conclusion; once the pay for play was off the table.”