By Niall Gartland

RECTIFYING the expenses gap will be high on the agenda after the GPA and WGPA officially decided to join forces after votes were passed at meetings of both associations.

The Gaelic Players Association and Women’s Gaelic Players Association will merge into one 4000-strong players’ body, and WGPA chair Maria Kinsella says they will lobby for additional government funding with a view to improving mileage standards for ladies footballers and camogs.

The WGPA recently commissioned a survey of 535 players which revealed that they receive less than a quarter of the government funding than men do, and that 93% of female players at intercounty level receiving no travel expenses at all, with the cost of fuel averaging €55 per week.

Speaking on Tuesday after the merger was revealed, Kinsella said that equality has to be the ultimate aim of the new association.

“93 percent of female players don’t get travel expenses so improving on that figure will be a key strategic aim.

“It’s going to be up to the new executive to define a strategy for the new combined association, but I would expect the expenses issue to feature.

“Over the last few weeks, the inequality in the Government funding has been highlighted. This isn’t about females coming into a new combined association looking to take away the pot that has already been there for the male player. That has been well-earned and is established over a longer time period.

“We want to see equal funding, on a parity basis, on a per head basis from the Government. So we want to see increased funding from the Government and there is potential for some of that to go towards some of the financial burden placed on female players.”

GPA Chief Executive Paul Flynn revealed that the merger has been in the pipeline for some time, and he hopes that GAA, LGFA, and Camogie Association will follow suit in the none-too-distant future. The former Dublin star is married to Fiona Hudson, another multiple All-Ireland winner, so he’s seen the financial disparity at close quarters.

“I’ve played through a career where I saw my wife get less than I did despite putting in the same effort. It’s not right and it’s not accepted any more.

“Male players have had an agreement with the government going back decades recognising the contribution to our indigenous games as well as the economic impact to the exchequer. 2020 has been a very unique year and has also shown the positive psychological impact our male and female players had had on society amid a pandemic. I’m hoping the government will recognise the positive impact players have made in what has been a very challenging year for everyone.”