John Hughes counters GPA’s Irish Times statement

Dessie Farrell

John Hughes has responded to Dessie Farrell’s Irish Times article this week, which defended the Players’ assoications’ deal with the GAA.

Farrell seeks to clarify the GPA’s position as a representative of intercounty players who need tobe supported for the long-term wellbeing of the assocation.

However, in his Opening Shot column, Hughes takes umbrage with a lot of what Farrell says.

For example he picks up on Farrell’s assertion that the GAA must accept that Intercounty players are driving most of the money back into the assocation. But in particular it is the wording that Hughes has a problem with:

“Farrell tells us in his piece that “Central to this agreement is an acknowledgement that the intercounty player is harnessed commercially by the GAA and sold for the wider benefit of the association through media rights, sponsorship, franchising and licensing.”

“Harnessed? Players are harnessed? Who’s harnessing them? Who is making them play inter-county football?

“Frankly, if you view pulling on the county jersey as a chore, then get the hell off the team.

“Go and do whatever else it is you want to do with your life and let a man who wants play for his county take your place.”

Read the full column in the current Gaelic Life, or if you’d like to read it now, buy the online edition by clicking here.