‘Gambling bomb has gone off’

Tipperary hurling legend John Leahy has described gambling in the GAA as a timebomb that has already exploded.

Leahy, a qualified addiction counsellor, explained the consequences of the “progressive” spiral into debt, despair and possibly suicide when he attended the launch of the 2014 Tesco Homegrown Ladies NFL yesterday.

Next Monday at Croke Park, GAA chiefs will launch their gambling guidelines for players and clubs, with Offaly star Niall McNamee and former Armagh All-Ireland SFC winner Oisín McConville scheduled to attend.