Cooney pledges to deal with breaches of winter training ban

GAA President Christy Cooney has challenged those aware of teams breaching the winter training ban to inform the Association of the counties involved.

Speaking at yesterday's GAA Higher Education Championship draws in UCD, Cooney challenged journalists present to tell him if they were privy to information of senior inter-county sides flouting the rules.

"If you tell me where (teams are breaking the ban), I will follow it up," he countered, when asked if the GAA are actively pursuring any county in breach of the ban.

It was reported in one Sunday newspaper last weekend that a particular player is allegedly travelling 200 kilometres to senior inter-county squad sessions at present, and is only getting an energy bar as sustenance and no assistance with mileage costs.

"County Boards are well aware of the situation (regarding the winter training ban). They agreed and were part of the decision-making process," explained Cooney.

"If we are aware that counties are abusing the situation, we will deal with it if it is brought to our attention.

"I am not aware of any. I believe there was some article in a newspaper last Sunday. I didn't see it, as I was out in Kuala Lumpur promoting the Association out there.

"I'm not aware, but I haven't heard of any issue and if a situation is brought to our attention we will deal with it."

And Cooney again reiterated that the onus is on counties to act in a responsible fashion.

"The responsibility is on County Boards to adhere to it, because they are a part of the decision-making process that Central Council made.

"Any county player I have spoken to, including those here today - they all accept that they need a break. They are happy to do a bit of gym work during the off season, but they need a break from full-time training, competitive training to recharge the batteries.

"All I would say to counties is would they respect their players and give them a break from the scene, and let them recharge the batteries and give their bodies a rest for a period of time."

Another contentious issue which has raised its head again this week is the use of GAA pitches for other sports, after it emerged that Wexford club Faythe Harriers may be in breach of rules regarding the use of its facilities for other sports.

"The situation is that information came to hand which reputed that Faythe Harriers grounds were being used for other sports," added Cooney.

"We have asked through Leinster Council for Wexford County Board to investigate the matter. They will duly report to Leinster Council on the situation and we will see where we go from there.

"If people are unhappy with the rule the only way you can change that is to put a motion to Congress to change it - that hasn't happened.

"We have invested money in our club grounds specifically for the use of Gaelic Games. They are vested in the Association for that.

"That's what our rules are, and that's what our responsibilities are to do. Other sports have their own grounds and we are not there to provide facilities for other sports.

"We made an exception with the use of Croke Park, and everybody knows the reason behind that, but club grounds are there for hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, ladies football and rounders, and we have challenges in even having to make our facilities available for our own clubs and teams at various times.

"We have no responsibility to provide facilities for other sports, and we have a rule enshrined in our general rules as to what exactly they are to be used for."