Law and order in the GAA

Tomorrow brings an official end to Jack Anderson’s time as the GAA’s Disputes Resolution Authority secretary. He leaves Queens University shortly for the University of Melbourne. His thoughts on the Diarmuid Connolly case, the GAA’s disciplinary system, the advance of semi-professionalism, and the scourge of problem gambling, are thought-provoking, writes John Fogarty.

It’s 1am on September 5, 2015. In 16 hours’ time, Dublin face Mayo in an All-Ireland semi-final replay. Diarmuid Connolly is hoping to be involved but

is sitting in a hallway of the Regency Hotel waiting to hear if the Disputes Resolution Authority will allow him to play. The DRA’s secretary, Jack Anderson, is beside him and telling him to go home but he’s too anxious. He’s got to know.