GAA bosses to vote on cash grants for players

GAA bosses to vote on cash grants for players

Colm Keys

The GAA's Central Council will be asked to support a sports grant initiative devised by the GPA at their meeting this Saturday.

The players' body has been pushing for a performance-related grant allowance for all inter-county players since their efforts to secure tax breaks ran out of steam two years ago.

The novel system would see players from the top 12 teams in hurling (all contestants for the Liam McCarthy Cup) and football (provincial finalists and winners of third round qualifiers) pick up sports grants worth €2,500 per year at the top end.

A motion to support the grant initiative will be put before this weekend's Central Council meeting by the players' official representative at this level, Dessie Farrell. The former Dublin captain was appointed as the Central Council delegate for players last year but, for various reasons, has only been able to attend one meeting so far.

When he moves the motion and seeks the official blessing of the GAA, it will represent his 'maiden' speech.

Farrell's motion, on behalf of all GAA players, and a series of amendments and submissions from the rule book task force are high on the agenda for the meeting.

GAA president Seán Kelly said he expected support for Farrell's motion.

The official 'blessing' from Central Council would help to further arm the Gaelic Players' Association in their quest for sports grants as they pursue talks with the Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue.

Under fire

The GPA came under fire earlier this week from Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney who wondered, in his annual report, just what exactly the GPA's agenda was.

His comments were met with a stern rebuke from Kildare player and GPA activist John Doyle yesterday, while Farrell has also extended an invitation to Delaney to visit their Dublin offices for a full briefing.

But Farrell is keen that the motion on Saturday should not be seen as being in any way confrontational.

As chief executive of the association, he can claim to be representing the majority of inter-county footballers and hurlers. The grants system is viewed by GPA, and by extension the majority of inter county players, as the best way of dealing with financial shortfalls that may exist.

Under the terms of the proposals before the Central Council, the grants scheme would be three-tiered with hurlers who play Christy Ring Cup competition and footballers from counties who bow out in the second and third round qualifiers getting €1,750.

At the lower end of the scale, Nicky Rackard Cup hurlers and footballers from teams who lose first round qualifiers will trouser just €1,000. Players from New York, London and Warwickshire are not included in the scheme.

"In my view, it's the best way forward to appeasing players because under the terms of the scheme everything is transparent and under control," said Farrell.

"Gaelic footballers and hurlers are the only elite athletes who don't qualify for tax rebates or the card system operated by the Sports Council," he added.

Inconvenience

"Under this system there would be no financial inconvenience to the GAA and the integrity of the game and the amateur ethos would remain in tact," he said. "Hopefully it will be supported."

The motion is sure to generate debate, as some may view it as a first step towards a form of professionalism.