The End of Amateurism or Overdue Recognition for the Players

Tomthepost

I was reading the Indo on Saturday and was somewhat surprised by the stance taken by a number of the Journos on the 3.5m euro fund for the GAA players. Alot of them seemed to be suggesting it was a black day for the GAA and pay for play is the end of the amateurism.
What you all reckon?

blackbelt

I don't think it is a massive issue when you take into account how much professional players in soccer,AFL,rugby etc get.These guys are getting a few hundred each,thats it.They are hardly going to be seen living in mansions,driving the top model car and living a luxurious lifestyle.

I've always maintained that players should be better treated but not to the point of professionalism which in my opinion the GAA is very far from.

When some people go to college,they get a grant as they can't afford the full fees.These players get a grant for their sporting talent and what they contribute to Irish Sports and culture.

If Alan Brogan and Ross Munnelly got 35,000 a week,that would be full blown professionalism.The amount of money given by the gov to each player is not lifechanging.

An Citeog

blackbelt wrote: »

If Alan Brogan and Ross Munnelly got 35,000 a week,that would be full blown professionalism.The amount of money given by the gov to each player is not lifechanging.

I don't think you could've picked 2 worse players as an example. Alan Brogan is employed as a GAA development officer. He makes his living from the GAA and because of his talent as a footballer.

Ross Munnelly was offered the chance to do a masters in DCU with a generous elite athlete scholarship. He didn't have to pay a penny, got free accomodation in DCU for the time that he spent there and all kinds of other incentives. The GAA ruled him ineligible to play for DCU in the Sigerson Cup as his masters was only part time, so he basically got all this for nothing. And don't even get me started on Conor Mortimer!

I'm not so much against the top intercounty players receiving grants, as I am against the money-hungry GPA and their complete disregard for the other 297,000 playing members of the GAA. :mad:

blackbelt

Well,TBH,I only thought of them in their footballing ability capacity and high profiles

An Citeog

blackbelt wrote: »

Well,TBH,I only thought of them in their footballing ability capacity and high profiles

I know, I wasn't having a go at you or anything. It's just that some people aren't aware of what a lot of the intercounty county players are getting from sources other than the GAA. Bryan Cullen got a free car from a local dealer around Skerries. Eoin Kelly (the Waterford one) is afaik unemployed and makes his living out of hurling, medal ceremonies, shop openings etc. A lot of the younger players are getting some juicy scholarships from the big universities eg. UL, LIT, UCD, DCU, UCC, WIT and the list goes on. Conor Mortimer is getting a free degree aswell, well as close to free as possible. I just don't see why they deserve anymore and I certainly wouldn't class it as overdue recognition for the players.

blackbelt

An Citeog wrote: »

I know, I wasn't having a go at you or anything. It's just that some people aren't aware of what a lot of the intercounty county players are getting from sources other than the GAA. Bryan Cullen got a free car from a local dealer around Skerries. Eoin Kelly (the Waterford one) is afaik unemployed and makes his living out of hurling, medal ceremonies, shop openings etc. A lot of the younger players are getting some juicy scholarships from the big universities eg. UL, LIT, UCD, DCU, UCC, WIT and the list goes on. Conor Mortimer is getting a free degree aswell, well as close to free as possible. I just don't see why they deserve anymore and I certainly wouldn't class it as overdue recognition for the players.

Well Conor Mortimer is a bit of an eejit so I wouldn't mind that too much.I saw him outside Barcode a few years ago p1ssed out of his tree and he got turned away by the bouncers.

But you're right,they shouldn't get preferential treatment over the average joe soap who might have financial problems plus trouble finding accomodation.People from Mayo are richer than they know and richer than they'll let on.Go to Louisburgh and price the land and you'll see.

Bryan Cullen got a free car???...I want a free car.:eek:

holymolyHS

Thats fair enough An Citeog, but even out of the number of inter county footballers and hurlers, the percentage of players that get treated like this is still in the minority. At least with this grant, a Carlow hurler for example will end up getting the same basic grant as any other player for a team that crash out in the early rounds of the hurling championship. The difference in amounts between those that get from the quarter finals all the way to the finals will still be negligible and hardly enough to be calling for agents to sort out the best deal for their client!!

Thought Eugene McGee summed up the club players plight really well in todays indo.

An Citeog

holymolyHS wrote: »

Thats fair enough An Citeog, but even out of the number of inter county footballers and hurlers, the percentage of players that get treated like this is still in the minority. At least with this grant, a Carlow hurler for example will end up getting the same basic grant as any other player for a team that crash out in the early rounds of the hurling championship. The difference in amounts between those that get from the quarter finals all the way to the finals will still be negligible and hardly enough to be calling for agents to sort out the best deal for their client!!

Thought Eugene McGee summed up the club players plight really well in todays indo.

Funnily enough, a good friend of mine plays hurling for Carlow and he also gets a grant for it. Why does an intercounty hurler in Carlow or Donegal deserve a grant and a club player for someone like Birr or Ballyhale Shamrocks not?

Nalced_irl

Enter OhNoYouDidnt! I cant wait for this laughable input!

holymolyHS

An Citeog wrote: »

Funnily enough, a good friend of mine plays hurling for Carlow and he also gets a grant for it. Why does an intercounty hurler in Carlow or Donegal deserve a grant and a club player for someone like Birr or Ballyhale Shamrocks not?

Thats a question for the GAA, GPA and government (cos its a case of don't mention the war ;-).
I completely agree in that dedicated club players have been taken for granted by the GAA and the GPA over this whole thing. I read on another website that there was supposedly to be a meeting for club players who are opposed to the grant scheme. Not sure if thats 100% real but I think thats what club players really need to do. Get organised and get stuck in.
Question for you An Citeog, do you know what reaction your Carlow hurler friend gets from his club mates now that he's getting a grant?

Tomthepost

An Citeog wrote: »

Funnily enough, a good friend of mine plays hurling for Carlow and he also gets a grant for it. Why does an intercounty hurler in Carlow or Donegal deserve a grant and a club player for someone like Birr or Ballyhale Shamrocks not?

Maybe they should consider giving grants to county champions be it Senior, Junior or Intermidiate. At the end of the day they go on to represent their county.

MGrah

Whoaaaa folks - slow down a bit there.

Can we remember for a moment that the GAA provides a facility to all of us players to enjoy our sport/hobby/passtime. I think it's less a case of the GAA/GPA taking the club player for granted as the GPA/Intercounty player taking the GAA, it's structures, organisation and facilities for granted.

Remember why any of us got involved in playing football/hurling in the first place? It was because we enjoyed the game, it was our hobby. Weren't we grateful that all the structures/facilities were in place to allow us to play in an organised/competitive environment?
Is it right that once we reach a certain level of performance, we're no longer happy that there are these great competitions for us to enjoy our passtime in and we now think that the very organisation that a) gave us the opportunity to play, b) nurtured our talents to put us where we are and c) created the great championship structure that puts us in the public eye, suddenly owes us a living?

The GPA looking for money from the GAA for intercounty players drives me mad, and is just another example of its eliteist attitude.

At what point do you step over the line here?
A jeuvenile player who is delighted to have a club in his/her hometown
A junior club player who is delighted that his/her level of ability is catered for
A senior club player who is has decided to push themselves in order to be as good at their chosen passtime as possible and will give up their time to do it
A senior intercounty player who originally decided to push themselves that little bit extra again, put in the nights training etc and get to the highest level out there
At what stage does someone stop being grateful for their opportunies and start thinking that the rest of the organisation should be paying them for the use of their talents?

The fact is we had great championships when guys trained once/twice a week with their counties, and we would still have great championships if we went back to that (some might say better). If guys choose to give up 5/6 nights a week inspite of having families/jobs etc, then good for them, I admire their dedication, appreciate the entertainment and enjoyment they give me and others and would think that we should make the facilities we provide to them as good as possible. But if they turn around to me afterwards and ask me to pay them for doing something I never asked them to do in the first place I'd tell them where to go.

Tomthepost

Im really beginning to think that great problems lay ahead and the announcement made last Friday was premature and not thought threw properly.
We have uproar in Ulster apparently and the ladies and handballers are rightly feeling discriminated against.
I think this story will go on and on for quite some time yet

An Citeog

MGrah wrote: »

Whoaaaa folks - slow down a bit there.

Can we remember for a moment that the GAA provides a facility to all of us players to enjoy our sport/hobby/passtime. I think it's less a case of the GAA/GPA taking the club player for granted as the GPA/Intercounty player taking the GAA, it's structures, organisation and facilities for granted.

Remember why any of us got involved in playing football/hurling in the first place? It was because we enjoyed the game, it was our hobby. Weren't we grateful that all the structures/facilities were in place to allow us to play in an organised/competitive environment?
Is it right that once we reach a certain level of performance, we're no longer happy that there are these great competitions for us to enjoy our passtime in and we now think that the very organisation that a) gave us the opportunity to play, b) nurtured our talents to put us where we are and c) created the great championship structure that puts us in the public eye, suddenly owes us a living?

The GPA looking for money from the GAA for intercounty players drives me mad, and is just another example of its eliteist attitude.

At what point do you step over the line here?
A jeuvenile player who is delighted to have a club in his/her hometown
A junior club player who is delighted that his/her level of ability is catered for
A senior club player who is has decided to push themselves in order to be as good at their chosen passtime as possible and will give up their time to do it
A senior intercounty player who originally decided to push themselves that little bit extra again, put in the nights training etc and get to the highest level out there
At what stage does someone stop being grateful for their opportunies and start thinking that the rest of the organisation should be paying them for the use of their talents?

The fact is we had great championships when guys trained once/twice a week with their counties, and we would still have great championships if we went back to that (some might say better). If guys choose to give up 5/6 nights a week inspite of having families/jobs etc, then good for them, I admire their dedication, appreciate the entertainment and enjoyment they give me and others and would think that we should make the facilities we provide to them as good as possible. But if they turn around to me afterwards and ask me to pay them for doing something I never asked them to do in the first place I'd tell them where to go.

QFT! I'm not advocating these grants and lay the blame squarely at the feet of the GPA. Most intercounty players have access to the very best of training facilities, equipment, fitness, medical and nutrition advice, gym membership, free gear, hot meals after training...the list goes on. They're in a very privileged position and one which the majority of the other 297,000 playing members of the GAA would give their right arm to be in. It's not perfect throughout the country and that's something that needs to be addressed eg. the treatment of injured players and those from the weaker counties, but this grant scheme isn't the answer. That's €3.5 million that could be very well spent elsewhere, be it by the GAA or one of the other minority sports scrapping for funds from the ISC.

holymolyHS wrote: »

Question for you An Citeog, do you know what reaction your Carlow hurler friend gets from his club mates now that he's getting a grant?

I've been studying abroad for the last while so I haven't got a chance to talk to him.

Tomthepost

An Citeog wrote: »

QFT! I'm not advocating these grants and lay the blame squarely at the feet of the GPA. Most intercounty players have access to the very best of training facilities, equipment, fitness, medical and nutrition advice, gym membership, free gear, hot meals after training...the list goes on. They're in a very privileged position and one which the majority of the other 297,000 playing members of the GAA would give their right arm to be in. It's not perfect throughout the country and that's something that needs to be addressed eg. the treatment of injured players and those from the weaker counties, but this grant scheme isn't the answer. That's €3.5 million that could be very well spent elsewhere, be it by the GAA or one of the other minority sports scrapping for funds from the ISC.


I agree people in minority sports are treated really badly in this country and that 3.5 million could have gone a long way towards maybe winning a medal or two in the 2012 Olympics.
I started this thread with an open mind but have to say already having read the views I am completely against the grants.
A poll on this would be interesting. As I'm a relatively new member and aint got clue how to do it can someone else arrange this????

An Citeog

To add a poll, go to your very first post on this page and click on the option above it that say "thread tools". Then click "add a poll". Choose your question, add the options and you've got yourself a poll.

blackbelt

I play football because I'm passionate about the sport.I'm also becoming more involved in other aspects of the game because I feel that playing the game isn't enough for me.I want more from the sport and to be more involved.

The perks intercounty players get is debatable.Yes they do train 3-4 times a week and in bitter and cruel conditions and dedicate their time to us fans who attend the league and championship.I think the free meal and free accomodation is warranted.Free cars are not.I'm not exactly sure how much these players will get but a few hundred euro is the figure.Far from professionalism at the same time.

The GPA are the root of this evil we are seeing.I think the GAA,government and GPA should have used that money to fund an insurance scheme where a player is unable to work due to serious injury from playing the game and the funds are used to support those players financially.

Monetary gain is a different kettle of fish.Stud farm owners do not pay tax at all...why?Sports like GAA and horse racing bring a lot to this country and so the government have some responsibility to nurture those sports and sustain growth and popularity but the question remains,where is the line crossed?

holymolyHS

Anyone else think that the GAA caved far too quick to the strike action? Very unlike the GAA to accept such a change so quickly. I find it hard to believe that they were really afraid of strike action, I think the GPA's stance on the strike wouldn't have lasted long.
When you think of how long and drawn out previous changes have taken to go through, not to mention the lack of consideration for grassroots opinions on this, it seems very strange that the GAA would accept this change so quickly.
Now granted there is still nothing concrete and this thing is far from over, but if anything it looks a done deal in principle.

An Citeog

holymolyHS wrote: »

Anyone else think that the GAA caved far too quick to the strike action? Very unlike the GAA to accept such a change so quickly. I find it hard to believe that they were really afraid of strike action, I think the GPA's stance on the strike wouldn't have lasted long.
When you think of how long and drawn out previous changes have taken to go through, not to mention the lack of consideration for grassroots opinions on this, it seems very strange that the GAA would accept this change so quickly.
Now granted there is still nothing concrete and this thing is far from over, but if anything it looks a done deal in principle.

I'm not really surprised by it but I don't think the GAA gave enough consideration to the other implications it may have. They just thought, we don't have to give them the money so it's not going to effect us that much.

aidan24326

MGrah wrote: »

The fact is we had great championships when guys trained once/twice a week with their counties, and we would still have great championships if we went back to that (some might say better). If guys choose to give up 5/6 nights a week inspite of having families/jobs etc, then good for them, I admire their dedication, appreciate the entertainment and enjoyment they give me and others and would think that we should make the facilities we provide to them as good as possible. But if they turn around to me afterwards and ask me to pay them for doing something I never asked them to do in the first place I'd tell them where to go.

There's no doubt IMO that county teams train too much. But who is pushing all this over-the-top training? A manger who may well be getting paid a significant amount for his services, and as a schoolteacher or self-employed businessman has the time to give to it aswell. In most cases anyway.

The quality of football was just as good before all this 5 nights a week training came in. Teams may be fitter than ever but it's remarkable how many county players still struggle to locate the goalposts or can't kick the ball with their weaker foot, even though the same player could run 20 laps of the pitch no bother.

I know one of the Kildare panellists and the training they do is madness. 3-4 sessions per week and the gym or the swimming pool on other days. You'd swear they were training for the olympics.

blackbelt

aidan24326 wrote: »

There's no doubt IMO that county teams train too much. But who is pushing all this over-the-top training? A manger who may well be getting paid a significant amount for his services, and as a schoolteacher or self-employed businessman has the time to give to it aswell. In most cases anyway.

The quality of football was just as good before all this 5 nights a week training came in. Teams may be fitter than ever but it's remarkable how many county players still struggle to locate the goalposts or can't kick the ball with their weaker foot, even though the same player could run 20 laps of the pitch no bother.

I know one of the Kildare panellists and the training they do is madness. 3-4 sessions per week and the gym or the swimming pool on other days. You'd swear they were training for the olympics.

Is that so they can be able to run after the opposition trying to get the ball and preventing scores.With all that training,they should be winning more than they are.:)

squire1

Did I read somewhere in the last couple of days that The GAA are working towards getting Dessie Farrell/GPA to join the executive as Player Welfare Manager or some such position.

I was wondering what people on here think. Would the players be better represented by an independant body like the GPA or would they get things done easier from inside the walls of power?

Maybe the GPA has now reached a point where they can do no more from the outside and would be better served by working from within?

Tomthepost

GPA are better off on their own I think. Just need to start appointing people with some brains and a bit of charisma to senior positions.
Come on
Dessie Farell
DJ Carey
McGeady
Donal Og

Surely there are better options

blackbelt

GPA is the worse thing that ever happened to GAA but if they ever want to increase in popularity then they will have to join the executive or be part of the organisation.There have always been issues surrounding the GAA and its recognition of the GPA.

Tomthepost

blackbelt wrote: »

GPA is the worse thing that ever happened to GAA but if they ever want to increase in popularity then they will have to join the executive or be part of the organisation.There have always been issues surrounding the GAA and its recognition of the GPA.

I actually think that in order to be truly representive of the players they have to stay separate. You don't hear people calling for SIPTU to become part of IBEC.
The GPA is meant to be a players organisation ran by the players. As the likes of DJ and Dessie no longer play inter-county I think they should step aside from the GPA.

squire1

Tomthepost wrote: »

As the likes of DJ and Dessie no longer play inter-county I think they should step aside from the GPA.

You think a current player should be the Chief of the GPA? Is that practical? While I agree Dessie is not the most photogenic or charismatic people, what current player is going to take on his role? I think Dessie is doing a fair enough job but maybe they should get someone else to be spokesperson.

I wonder if the GPA have any money available to get some professional public relations advice as sometimes they come across as a bit amateur, if you will excuse the pun.

Tomthepost

squire1 wrote: »

You think a current player should be the Chief of the GPA? Is that practical? While I agree Dessie is not the most photogenic or charismatic people, what current player is going to take on his role? I think Dessie is doing a fair enough job but maybe they should get someone else to be spokesperson.

I wonder if the GPA have any money available to get some professional public relations advice as sometimes they come across as a bit amateur, if you will excuse the pun.[/QUOTE

I'm sure some players already work in PR area. There are 32 counties most with two teams so you have quite a wide pick. It doesn;t have to be a high profile candidate (a Sligo hurler would be fine) just someone that knows their stuff.

blackbelt

The GPA was originally founded with the mission statement to look after the welfare of players.I still maintain that the insurance scheme would have been much better.Then you wouldn't have the future issue of players/teams fighting over their piece of the pie.

The insurance fund would support the player and his/her family in the event of that player being unable to work due to injuries sustained on the field of play.

squire1

blackbelt wrote: »

The GPA was originally founded with the mission statement to look after the welfare of players.I still maintain that the insurance scheme would have been much better.Then you wouldn't have the future issue of players/teams fighting over their piece of the pie.

The insurance fund would support the player and his/her family in the event of that player being unable to work due to injuries sustained on the field of play.

The whole issue of insurance is a hugely complicated area. I agree it is important and it is probably the next issue that the GPA will address. Hopefully, this time they will try and include the ordinary club player in their plans.

I remember we tried to organise it at our own club and they players were just not interested. God, most of them hardly pay their annual membership let alone pay into an insurance fund.

Erin Go Brath

MGrah wrote: »

Whoaaaa folks - slow down a bit there.

Can we remember for a moment that the GAA provides a facility to all of us players to enjoy our sport/hobby/passtime. I think it's less a case of the GAA/GPA taking the club player for granted as the GPA/Intercounty player taking the GAA, it's structures, organisation and facilities for granted.

Remember why any of us got involved in playing football/hurling in the first place? It was because we enjoyed the game, it was our hobby. Weren't we grateful that all the structures/facilities were in place to allow us to play in an organised/competitive environment?
Is it right that once we reach a certain level of performance, we're no longer happy that there are these great competitions for us to enjoy our passtime in and we now think that the very organisation that a) gave us the opportunity to play, b) nurtured our talents to put us where we are and c) created the great championship structure that puts us in the public eye, suddenly owes us a living?

The GPA looking for money from the GAA for intercounty players drives me mad, and is just another example of its eliteist attitude.

At what point do you step over the line here?
A jeuvenile player who is delighted to have a club in his/her hometown
A junior club player who is delighted that his/her level of ability is catered for
A senior club player who is has decided to push themselves in order to be as good at their chosen passtime as possible and will give up their time to do it
A senior intercounty player who originally decided to push themselves that little bit extra again, put in the nights training etc and get to the highest level out there
At what stage does someone stop being grateful for their opportunies and start thinking that the rest of the organisation should be paying them for the use of their talents?

The fact is we had great championships when guys trained once/twice a week with their counties, and we would still have great championships if we went back to that (some might say better). If guys choose to give up 5/6 nights a week inspite of having families/jobs etc, then good for them, I admire their dedication, appreciate the entertainment and enjoyment they give me and others and would think that we should make the facilities we provide to them as good as possible. But if they turn around to me afterwards and ask me to pay them for doing something I never asked them to do in the first place I'd tell them where to go.

Very well written post! A lot of good points included in there. Its as simple as this: if players don't want to play, then they don't have to. Gaelic Games have had organised All-Ireland Championships for well over a Century now, and players being paid has never come into the equation before. If its taking too much time out of players lives with training etc then let them quit! Its symptomatic of 21st century Ireland that everything revolves around money. Players used to play for the love of the game. Whatever happened to those days. :rolleyes:

Tomthepost

Tomorrow is the last day of the poll. Very close as it stands. If you aint voted already please do so and we will send off the result to Dessie, Nicky, John Tracey, Brian Cowen and so on.

An Citeog

Tomthepost wrote: »

Tomorrow is the last day of the poll. Very close as it stands. If you aint voted already please do so and we will send off the result to Dessie, Nicky, John Tracey, Brian Cowen and so on.

All 20 of us! That's even less representative of the GAA than the GPA is!

Tomthepost

Poll closes at 2pm. Please get the final votes in.

future_plans

There was a good article in the Independant (I think) yesterday about this. Some valid pooints were made in reference to the "Amateur" status of top GAA players. When we are talking about Amateur in the purest sense of the word, the elite in both codes have abandoned that philosophy many years ago. Most of the top players are getting commercial endorsements either locally or nationally these days and are getting far more than the €1000 - €2000 that are being talked about for the grants. In fact, this money is probably of little consequence to the games true elite. The mediocraty will surely feel the benefit more acutely.

It is also no secret that the larger clubs and counties can provide very flexible working hours to accomodate their "stars" and also attract other "stars". This is hardly an attribute of "Amateurism" in the purest sense.

I for one would love to go back to the days of the "All Ireland Gold" for example. But those days are gone and for better or for worse, all aspects of Irish society are far more commercialised today. And this will not change, and as always, the GAA cannot afford to stand still. Thankfully, it seems they are not standing still. Despite all the criticism, the GAA is the most forward looking, adaptable and innovative orgaisations in the country. They are dealing with this the right way, overdue recognition of their second most valuable asst. Their players. The most valuable asset of course being the thriving underage player base.

go raibh maith agaibh

Tomthepost

It looks like a final push for the yes vote.
Only one and a half to go. Dont forget to have your say

Tomthepost

Only 20 minutes left and the scores are level. Will there be a winner at all

Tomthepost

An unbelievable comeback by the yes vote as they take the lead for the very first time. 10 minutes to go. Is there time for a fightback for the no vote.

Tomthepost

Its all over. 6 points without reply clinches poll for the yes vote. You would have got 5/1 with Paddy Powers this morning on the comeback. A poor finish by the no votes leaves them with red faces.
Man of the poll Future Plans
A fantastic last minute post turns the screw on the no voters

Paz-CCFC

I'm happy that players are getting paid. With the amount of commitment, the expenses (which I'm led to believe is quite small) isn't enough. The games were always going to have to pay players, with todays world.

Without payment, some players cannot cope with juggling a family, a job and Gaelic games. Some would leave for other sports that pay, while others may be forced to quit sport altogether.

With getting a bit of money out of it, it means that players can take a little bit of time out of work, which means they can concentrate more on GAA or at least not cut back on it as much.

Just a question, is this payment a once off or will players be getting paid regularly?

Tomthepost

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

I'm happy that players are getting paid. With the amount of commitment, the expenses (which I'm led to believe is quite small) isn't enough. The games were always going to have to pay players, with todays world.

Without payment, some players cannot cope with juggling a family, a job and Gaelic games. Some would leave for other sports that pay, while others may be forced to quit sport altogether.

With getting a bit of money out of it, it means that players can take a little bit of time out of work, which means they can concentrate more on GAA or at least not cut back on it as much.

Just a question, is this payment a once off or will players be getting paid regularly?

As far as I know it will be an annual thing

M1cky

just started reading this thread, didn't get the whole way through it, intend to come back to it but this one thing did catch my eye

Originally Posted by An Citeog... Why does an intercounty hurler in Carlow or Donegal deserve a grant and a club player for someone like Birr or Ballyhale Shamrocks not?[

How about the fact that the club player will not be drug tested by the Irish sports Council but the intercounty player might? GAA Intercounty players are elite, and they weren't made elite by the GPA, why should they be subjected to the worries that elite athletes must put up with but not be eligible for the benefits their peers enjoy...

blackbelt

If you want to look at it in that context,it doesn't really seem relevent.I think you are missing the central issue and thats players getting paid due to their status and not what they may be subjected to.

Colm Cooper,Alan Dillon and Shane Ryan may get a grant because they are elite in the fact that they are part of the countries biggest annual sporting event and are high profile members of sporting society.Club players,whilst an integral part of the GAA,are not recognized for their efforts and contributions to the game because they are not as high profile as the aforementioned.

Thats the issue An Citeog is referring to.It seems to be biased because during the winter months when intercounty competitions are non-existent,these club players are the ones entertaining fans of the sport and not getting a cent for it.

An Citeog

M1cky wrote: »

just started reading this thread, didn't get the whole way through it, intend to come back to it but this one thing did catch my eye

How about the fact that the club player will not be drug tested by the Irish sports Council but the intercounty player might? GAA Intercounty players are elite, and they weren't made elite by the GPA, why should they be subjected to the worries that elite athletes must put up with but not be eligible for the benefits their peers enjoy...

And that's where I disagree with you. I don't want to go round in circles but there are a lot of intercounty players who are far from elite. Just look at the arguments going on in the O'Byrne Cup thread about the Kilkenny footballers. Do they deserve a grant aswell?

So, those players deserve a grant because of the off-chance that the ISC may decide to test them for banned substances? You're entitled to your opinion but I don't agree with it.

I've nothing against the players being given a little helping hand or being compensated for loss of earnings. All I'm pointing out is that a lot of intercounty players are very well looked after and already have some very attractive perks that come with their elite status. I also don't agree with the way the GPA handled this, especially regarding the threat of strike action.

Paz-CCFC

blackbelt wrote: »

If you want to look at it in that context,it doesn't really seem relevent.I think you are missing the central issue and thats players getting paid due to their status and not what they may be subjected to.

Colm Cooper,Alan Dillon and Shane Ryan may get a grant because they are elite in the fact that they are part of the countries biggest annual sporting event and are high profile members of sporting society.Club players,whilst an integral part of the GAA,are not recognized for their efforts and contributions to the game because they are not as high profile as the aforementioned.

Thats the issue An Citeog is referring to.It seems to be biased because during the winter months when intercounty competitions are non-existent,these club players are the ones entertaining fans of the sport and not getting a cent for it.

Cos the high profilers would be better players...just like football (I mean soccer). Why should a player at Man Utd get paid more than a player at Limerick 37? Cos the player at Man Utd would be higher profile and better. With rugby, why should a player at Munster get paid more than a player who plays lower down the ranks? Cos he's higher profile and better.

That's just my opinion, now. The likes of Colm Cooper would be semi-professional now wouldn't they, while the players lower down are still amateur?