Tomorrow's Gaelic Players' Association-organised protest at the GAA's National League matches might appear a relatively harmless matter. Indeed, in the light of a threatened boycott of these fixtures, the decision by players to merely delay the throw-in at all matches by 15 minutes is far less disruptive than had been feared. But Croke Park has been well advised to take the gesture seriously.
Just as the players had asked that the authorities respect their right to protest, so the GPA has contributed to finding a way forward in the current climate of rumbling discontent. It was noticeable at Monday's media conference that the players' organisation distinctly distanced itself from the semi-professionalism or pay-for-play agenda that had increasingly become part of the pronouncements of leading members of the GPA. Secondly, the fact that at last the players had presented a list of demands or issues of concern will make it easier for incoming GAA president Nickey Brennan to participate positively in discussions when the parties meet at the beginning of next month.
Getting everyone to the table in good faith is however only the first step, albeit an important one. For a start the issue that has driven the current impasse looks intractable. The GAA may have been guilty of dragging its feet in relation to the GPA campaign to secure Government grants for senior inter-county players. But Croke Park's instinct that such funding is highly unlikely looks well founded given the increasingly voluble misgivings of the Irish Sports Council, the proposed "gate keepers" of the grants scheme. However, a setback on that issue doesn't have to be fatal to relations between the players and Croke Park. There are plenty of other matters that can usefully be thrashed out by the two parties.
The crux of this relationship is that elite players have become more frustrated at the perceived cavalier fashion in which the considerable sacrifices of lifestyle and career that lie at the heart of top-class inter-county football and hurling are treated, whereas from the GAA's perspective the rise of the GPA has raised fears for the association's amateur ethos and irritated ordinary members by appearing to undervalue their voluntary contribution.
As he assumes office in the coming weeks, Mr Brennan will know that dealing with this situation could well turn out to be a touchstone of his presidency. As an All-Ireland medallist, former county manager and able administrator, he has the credentials to resolve this matter. But he will also be aware that there is no further room for delaying engagement.