GAELIC GAMES/Players' grants issue: The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) have strongly criticised the GAA's non-attendance at a meeting yesterday with the Minister for Sport, John O'Donoghue, to discuss the issue of Government grants for intercounty players.

O'Donoghue refused to discuss the grant scheme with the players' body unless a representative from Croke Park was in attendance. The scheme has been received favourably by outgoing GAA president Seán Kelly but the GPA felt the consistent "fudging" of the matter reached a head at the last month's Central Council meeting when it was deferred until incoming president Nickey Brennan takes office next month.

"There is a degree of ambiguity there as it was kicked to touch at the recent Central Council meeting when Nickey Brennan said it hadn't been raised before, yet when I asked Seán Kelly to clarify that it had, he agreed there was an agreement in principle from Central Council," said GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell.

The GPA statement added: "A number of formal invitations were extended to senior GAA officials to attend the meeting, highlighting the urgency of this issue for the playing body. The correspondence to Croke Park specified the GAA's attendance at the meeting would not prejudice any decision taken by them in the future. However, their failure to send a representative and even respond to our correspondence has incensed players who are no longer prepared to accept the GAA's excuses, procedural or otherwise, for a lack of progress and non-cooperation."

Yesterday's statement also described the GAA's attitude to the scheme as "inconsistent" and "apathetic". Yet, when giving examples of such instances they actually compliment the actions of past president Seán McCague and incumbent Seán Kelly. This may damage the relationship between the group and the incoming Brennan.

"It's particularly frustrating that we seem to be caught up in bureaucracy and procedural matters the whole time and no one can categorically state whether they do or don't support," continued Farrell. "Players' careers are shortlived - since I came into the GPA a whole generation of players' careers have passed and there has been no progress on the burning issue of loss of earnings.

"This was seen as a very workable solution. A compromise. Players would be appeased and it would in no way damage the amateur ethos or integrity of the game. And yet we encounter this fudge time and time again."

Farrell refused to confirm the mention of "an appropriate plan of action" as a vague reference to a player strike, although the GPA executive will convene for an emergency meeting early next week.

The GAA expressed surprise and regret at the statement by insisting the GPA were aware of the decision to defer the issue until after next month's congress.

"The GPA issued this press release despite being fully aware of the GAA position in this regard," said GAA spokesman Fergal McGill. "Dessie Farrell's motion to Central Council, seeking support for the grant scheme was deferred as Nickey Brennan wanted to deal with this during his presidency, which begins in six weeks. Also, the delegates wanted to discuss the full details and implications of such a scheme with their county boards so they could be mandated accordingly.

"Dessie Farrell should be well aware of this as he was present at the meeting and agreed to defer the issue until such time. The GPA were also aware of the goodwill expressed on this issue by the GAA, who have identified the potential of the scheme to solve many player welfare problems."