GPA issues players with strike ballot

Confirmation that the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) had issued its members with a ballot for strike action due to the "ongoing failure of the Government and the GAA to implement sports grants for intercounty players" coincided with the latest effort to address that failure.

The GPA statement came shortly after the GAA met the Government yesterday morning for further talks aimed at finding a solution to the grants issue. The GPA remained intent on pursuing the strike route, with the outcome of that ballot expected by the end of the month.

"This significant action is being taken by the GPA following an extensive process of negotiation with our members," read the GPA statement. "Four provincial meetings were held followed by a period of consultation where every county squad in Ireland was contacted to gauge the mood in regard to the grants issue and any potential protest.

"The GPA executive has advised its members to vote in favour of the action which will consist of a removal of players from all inter-county competitions next season."

GAA president Nickey Brennan has refused to be drawn into discussing the implications of such a strike, nor was he willing to disclose the outcome of yesterday's meeting with the Minister for Sport, Séamus Brennan, and other Government officials. The GAA president was accompanied to the meeting by director general Liam Mulvihill and player welfare manager Paraic Duffy, although there was no representation from the GPA.

"All I will say about the meeting is that it was very cordial," said Brennan, "and we brought the Minister up to date. It was our first formal engagement, and I think he's a sincere man, and we agreed we'll get together again. He has much experience in negotiations in various different capacities, and I've no doubt he will use that immense experience to help us all get a solution.

"But I can't forecast when or if there'll be a solution. But it won't be for want of effort. We have some other things planned, but I'm not prepared to divulge what they may be. The GAA are committed to ensuring the impasse is sorted, and we'll work hard on that. But I'm not going into any detail on the matter. We've heard his (the Minister's) views and he's keen, like ourselves, to see this sorted. And we'll all work hard for the next while to see if we can get to the bottom of the matter."

In the meantime, Brennan has another matter on his mind as later today he'll start the salvage attempt on the International Rules series with Australia when he meets his AFL counterpart, Andrew Demetriou, at a specially-arranged meeting in Paris. As he outlined last week, Brennan will need some convincing if the series is to be saved.

"People know my view, that I'm not crazy on the series, but at the same time I represent a wide audience in the GAA, people with different views, and there are supporters out there, and some players and team management, who have expressed a wish that series might be continued, and I need to represent them.

"I'm not saying this meeting will decide if they series goes ahead or not, but it will certainly give us a feel as to whether we're still on the same pitch as them. But I do need to ask hard questions, and after that we will assess . . . whether the series can be carried on."

Brennan, however, has no intention of reviving the series at under-17 level: "That series is dead in the water, you can take that as a given."

ULSTER (v Connacht, Ballybofey):James Reilly (Cavan); Barry Owens (Fermanagh), Kevin McCloy (Derry), Karl Lacey (Donegal); Aaron Kernan (Armagh), Conor Gormley (Tyrone, capt), Kevin Cassidy (Donegal); Owen Lennon (Monaghan), Dan Gordon (Down); Dick Clerkin (Monaghan), Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Paul Finlay (Monaghan); Thomas Freeman (Monaghan), Gerard Pierson (Cavan), Enda Muldoon (Derry). Subs: Paul Durkin (Donegal), Shane Goan (Fermanagh), Ciarán McKeever (Armagh), Barry Monaghan (Donegal), Damian Freeman (Monaghan), Christy Toye (Donegal), Justin Crozier (Antrim), Com McFadden (Donegal), Ambrose Rodgers (Down).