Kelleher calls for financial restructure

A leading economist has said he believes the distribution of central funds in the GAA should be rebalanced to help counties cope with the rising costs of maintaining county teams.

Robbie Kelleher, a three-time All-Ireland medallist with Kevin Heffernan's Dublin and now chief economist with Davy stockbrokers, was commenting on the current focus on Croke Park's commercial income in the context of the threatened players' strike over the implementation of a grant scheme for intercounty players.

Asked did he feel the speculation on upcoming commercial deals was creating expectations for county players, Kelleher told this newspaper, "That is unquestionable. The current financial structure sees the top bodies scoop the pot whereas other levels struggle. Dublin and Meath bring 82,000 to Croke Park but get nothing or very little out of it."

He accepted the policy of centrally distributing revenues was intended to deal equally with all counties but felt the system needed adjustment.

"There's the question of whether it trickles down optimally and also of money sitting in accounts while counties are burdened with the demands of players. There should be a better balance than we have at the moment. Look through the finances of the GAA at the top levels, Central Council, provincial councils, and they're in really good shape but farther down counties and clubs are struggling to make ends meet."

Kelleher was involved in a forerunner of the Gaelic Players Association back in the late 1970s - "It never really got off the ground. No one had the stomach to put the amount of time into it that was necessary and obviously that's different now" - and sees no threat to the GAA's amateur status from the current campaign for player grants.

"I don't think so. I believe, although I'm not involved in any way, this will be resolved and the Government will give them the money.

"Is it the start of something bigger? I don't think so. Maybe down the line there will be pressure but the structure of the organisation makes it difficult."

Neither does he believe the issue of broader discontent over the recognition of players within the association is significant.

"I don't get any sense of it at all. Maybe if you asked some people who put in a lot of voluntary work they'd be opposed to players getting paid, but in my experience in Kilmacud it's never been discussed and I don't get a sense of disquiet."

Meanwhile the Leinster Council has acknowledged the failure to play extra time in Sunday's club football quarter-final between St Vincent's and Seneschalstown was down to "human error" in that referee Eugene Murtagh should have played the additional period when the sides finished level.

"All games have extra time, and that's communicated to the counties," said Michael Reynolds of the council, adding a similar situation was averted in Newbridge at the end of the hour in the Moorefield-Dromard match.

"The Kildare County Board spotted there was indecision over whether to play extra time and some of the crowd were starting to leave so there was an immediate announcement there would be extra time and officials were able to produce a copy of the fixture notification from the county board offices."

Both matches will be replayed next Sunday.