GPA deny supporting players against managers

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has denied that it is driving an agenda in relation to player discontent with intercounty management. Dessie Farrell, CEO of the organisation, said that he didn't believe such a view of the players' union was widely held and defended its role in such disputes.

He also revealed the GPA have submitted proposals to the GAA, relating to the appointment processes for intercounty managers.

Farrell was speaking at Thursday's announcement of scholarships to Dublin City University's Business School. The awards are jointly funded by DCU and the GPA.

His comments come in the context of player revolts in two high-profile county panels, Mayo footballers and the recent drawn-out saga of the Galway hurlers.

Perceived role

In the latter case there was anger amongst some administrators at the perceived role of the GPA in the dispute and when manager Anthony Cunningham resigned he made veiled departing reference to the players' attitude as being "orchestrated with the help of others outside Galway".

Asked about this perception that the GPA was agitating within county panels, Farrell replied: “I think that view would only be held by certain individuals, I don’t see it as being a view that’s widespread across the country. People would be naive if they think that the GPA wouldn’t be involved in some capacity in relation to disputes between players and management or players and county board.

“We don’t operate on the basis of rabble rousing. We operate on the basis that we try to bring some sort of resolution and support our players in thinking clearly about this and advising and guiding them on the best way forward.

“With these situations, there is always going to be fallout unfortunately. I think it’s trying to manage that as best we can and understand that there’s human beings involved on all sides here.”

The GPA CEO said that the organisation’s priority was to eliminate the flash points that led to such situations.

“We are a players’ representative body and we are there to guide players and we have no issue in informing people of that fact either. But what we’re keen to see is that the opportunity for these types of disputes reduces significantly. I think it has been disappointing that there’s been two disputes this year.

“We’ve submitted proposals to the GAA in relation to trying to address the challenges around the appointment of management teams and the review of management teams.

“In a nutshell, I think there needs to be a panel set up which comprises an independent chairman, agreed by both parties, and representatives of county board and players. In my opinion, it’s best if it’s not a current player but a former player or a representative or liaison on behalf of players.”

Farrell also addressed concerns about last weekend’s staging of a Dublin-Galway Super 11s format hurling match in Boston’s Fenway Park.

Although the event, promoted by the GPA and sponsored by AIG attracted a fine crowd of around 28,000, there have been complaints that it the experimental game is a waste of money that would be better spent on hurling in weaker counties at home.

“There was no cost to the GAA or GPA in relation to this event,” Farrell stated, “nor to the county boards. No cost whatsoever.

“We do a lot for weaker hurling counties here. Donal O’Grady (former Cork All-Ireland winning manager) this year chaired a work group for us to review what’s happening in non-traditional counties and he already has made several recommendations, and many of those were introduced throughout the course of the year.

“We’ll be finalising a report with comprehensive recommendations, and will submit that to the GPA in early December.”

The match also featured an extensive fracas, which is being considered by the CCCC, and Farrell was asked had he been disappointed that this had dominated a lot of the media coverage. He preferred to emphasise the positive reaction in the US.

‘Massive interest’

“At home, yeah, I think there was definitely some of that. Being honest, our audience was in the US and it was met with overwhelming support and massive interest, broadcast and live TV over there.

"I think it had to be viewed as a great success. It was an ambition of ours for a number of years to try and pull something like that off. I think it was a proud day for us all to have succeeded in that but, equally, I think it was a proud day for Irish people in Boston.

“If we want to grow the games to international audiences, we have to think differently about our approach to date. Typically, it has been All Stars tours and, in my opinion, those games do a disservice to the GAA, as an organisation, and to Gaelic games as a whole.”