Anger as Masters gets the boot

THE man behind the motion to revive the All-Ireland Masters series has expressed disappointment after it was rejected at the GAA’s Annual Congress last weekend.

John Pat Sheridan, a member of Burrishoole GAA club in Mayo, captained the county’s Masters footballers to an All-Ireland title in 2009 and was also the driving force behind the motion to have the competition recognised officially again by Croke Park.

Speaking after it was defeated by 54% to 46% after a vote last Saturday, Sheridan questioned the GAA’s commitment to encouraging participation in Gaelic games.

“We’re very disappointed,” he said. “The decision would make you wonder what the GAA is all about. I was always led to believe that the main purpose of the GAA was to promote participation and encourage people to play Gaelic games.

“President Christy Cooney was at pains to point out that there was no lack of connection between Croke Park and the grassroots of the GAA,” added Sheridan.

“But, less than half an hour later, the CCCC spoke against a competition that would promote Gaelic games participation for players all across the country. It would make you wonder.”

The former Mayo Over 40s skipper also paid tribute to those who had supported the Masters cause last weekend, including two former GAA Presidents.

“The motion got an awful lot of support,” he admitted.

“We also got great backing from two former Presidents, Dr Mick Loftus and Seán Kelly, who both spoke in favour of the motion. It was Seán Kelly who mooted the idea of recreational football during his presidency. But his idea was to bring players back into the GAA and maintain the competitive element, not take it away.”

Sheridan and his Mayo colleagues intend to tog out again next month in the Mayo ‘Reserve League’ for club teams where they will line out under the banner of ‘St Patrick’s Masters.

“It’s a consolation, but only a token consolation, that we have been allowed to take part in that competition,” he said.

“We’ll be playing against lads half our age and, while we’re delighted, our ambition was to play in the Masters inter-county competition.

“After the decision at Congress last weekend, we intend to hold a meeting and see where we go from here as a group of Masters players from right around the country.”