Gaelic Games News: The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has established a new Funds Administration Committee as a result of significant income from the recent sponsorship deal with the sports drink Club Energise.

Yesterday the GPA received €50,000, its first quarterly payment under the deal, and the primary role of the new committee will be to oversee the allocations to scholarships and youth development programs over the next year.

The committee is to be chaired by Kieran McGeeney, Armagh football captain and also development officer with the Irish Sports Council. The other members are Michael McArdle, marketing director of C&C Ireland, who manufacture the drink, and Gary O'Mahony, an accountant with Ernst and Young.

Launched last August, the Club Energise drink has also used around 30 GAA players as part of a broad advertising campaign, who also benefit under a separate deal. Six per cent of every bottle sold goes to the GPA, with sales so far exceeding 1.5 million bottles.

At the launch the GPA predicted a maximum income of around €170,000 to €200,000 in the first year, with hopes of reaching between €2 million and €3 million over the initial 10-year period of the deal.

"We're more than pleased with how the first few months have gone," said Donal O'Neill, the GPA's commercial director.

"The figures have certainly met our best expectations, and that's very satisfying. There may be some dip over the winter months but we're certainly on course to reach our predicted figures."

Initial allocations of funds will be made to scholarships and youth development programmes, through the club infrastructure, over the next year. If deemed appropriate by the GPA in consultation with C&C Ireland, the establishment of additional recipient schemes may be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

The criteria for scholarship applications has already been established by the GPA, but the funds committee will be accountable for the establishment of a policy governing the allocation of funds towards youth development programmess within clubs.

"The committee's main function is to bring transparency to the process," added O'Neill. "The scholarship end of it is a little more straight forward than the club funds, and that's where Kieran's professional expertise will come in. He has extensive professional experience in the area of youth development."

In other news, meanwhile, Cavan have become the first Ulster county to pass a motion calling for Croke Park to be opened up to other sports. At the annual convention earlier this week, a motion from the Ramor United Club, allowing Central Council to have the power to sanction the use of Croke Park for field games other than those controlled by the Association, was carried almost unanimously.

And elsewhere, Peter Canavan has made his first firm commitment to Tyrone football next year, ending speculation that he was considering retirement.

"I intend to be back," he said. "There are just a few things to be sorted out, especially with regards to the ankle (injury). I still don't know if I need an operation. I'll have to get it looked at and reassessed. After that I'll be in a better position to say when I'll be back."

Details have been announced of the annual Dublin Blue Stars challenge, which takes place on Sunday, January 4th at the Naomh Mearnóg GAA Club in Portmarnock.

Players selected as the finest Dublin club hurlers and footballers for 2003 will play against the Dublin intercounty hurling and football Teams.

The hurling commences at 12.45 p.m. followed by the football at 2 p.m. The hurling game will mark the first outing for new senior manager Humphrey Kelleher.

Included on the Blue Stars team is Paul Curran, who was honoured with his seventh award - 13 years after being named on the inaugural football team.

The Dublin Hurler of the Year Award went to David Wyse of the Craobh Chiaráin Club and the Dublin Footballer of the Year to Mick Galvin of St Brigid's.

Dominic Corrigan is back in management, just two weeks after quitting as Fermanagh boss.

Corrigan has been appointed as the new manager of leading Tyrone club Carrickmore.