GAELIC GAMES: Veteran manager Mick O'Dwyer tells Ian O'Riordan senior county players should be compensated

Mick O'Dwyer has backed the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) in their efforts to introduce Government-sponsored grants for senior, intercounty players.

The most seasoned manager in the game, O'Dwyer believes his Laois football team don't have a big problem with the issue of player compensation, but the GPA still need to fight their corner in any way they can.

The grants issue takes centre stage at two special GPA meetings this Saturday, to be staged in Portlaoise and Belfast simultaneously. Called primarily to assess the mood of the players, Saturday's meetings could also decide what action might be taken to ensure the issue is moved forward at a more acceptable pace.

"It is good to see the GPA working so hard on behalf of the players," said O'Dwyer. "Of course they should be compensated if they're losing out on work and all that kind of stuff. And I think the GPA are doing a good job on that.

"They're really the only ones fighting for the rights of players, and that's very important, because we can never forget that players are the most important people in our association. So I'm just hoping everything will work out for them the way they want at the weekend."

It's over a year since the GPA started focusing on a Government grant for intercounty players, which would average less than €2,000 per player a year, with an annual cost of around €3.6 million to the Exchequer.

The blueprint for the scheme is relatively straightforward, and involves three levels of grants (€2,500, €1,750 and €1,000), depending on the team's progress in the championship.

In hurling, the grant would be broken by the three tiers of the championship (the Liam MacCarthy, the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard cups).

With any moves towards pay-for-play still a long way off, if ever, the main concern of the GPA is improving player compensation. O'Dwyer believes county boards have an important role as well.

"In fairness, I don't think too many of the Laois players have many complaints at the moment," he added.

"They seem to be fairly happy. I think they're really enjoying their football at the moment, and I don't think that would be the case if they weren't happy with the way they're being treated.

"But, medically wise, and in every other way, we look after them as best we can. And that has always been my policy."

O'Dwyer has witnessed first-hand the increase in both player commitment over the years and in the responsibilities of the management. It's not so long since O'Dwyer would have taken charge of almost everything, but his backroom team in Laois has now extended well beyond selectors Declan O'Loughlin, Gabriel Lawlor and Martin Parkinson.

"Yeah, I brought in Gerry Loftus with us now, and he's doing a lot of the physical training, and he has made a big difference. We also have Eamonn O'Muircheartaigh in there now as our pyhsio, and Aidan McFall as well from Portlaoise as our masseur. So we're pretty well geared up in that regard."

Laois head into the last round of the National League on Sunday week knowing a draw against Kildare would probably be enough to see them through to the semi-finals. But having beaten Down, Derry and Armagh in recent weeks, O'Dwyer is clearly keen to extend his winning run.

"Well, we set out to stay in the division, that was the most important thing from the very start. We've achieved that, but anything else we get from here on in would certainly be a good bonus.

"And I don't think we're peaking too soon, because we're still only training two nights a week. We're still gearing towards the championship, no doubt about that. Players are coming into shape at the moment, but that's important because the league is a very good competition now. It practically runs right into the championship, and that's great preparation.

"That beats looking for challenge games, but I don't think they are of any importance anyway. We've also been finding out a lot about our players, because the games in this league have been very competitive."

What is certain is that no matter how well Laois do in the league or championship, O'Dwyer will be moving on: "Yeah, well, I made a commitment that I'd do two more years, after that first two years, and that's definitely it. I've made up my mind about that for a while now and all the county board know about it."

There was one definite improvement for both players and supporters of the game yesterday with the launch of a new results website, www.gaaresults.ie.

The brainchild of Cavan players Michael Hannon and Michael Lyng, and former player Vincent Kelly, the site will be instantaneously updated after games by participating clubs across the country.

Club members can also get results sent by text message to their mobile phone, with 40 per cent of that revenue going back to club funds.