GAA turns its back on €20million to Guarantee Free-to-Air

[qtman]

Tadgh Kennelly, Setanta and whatever O'hAilpin, Colm Begley, Hanley from Mayo, Brendan Murphy, Kevin Dyas, Martin Clarke.

8 by my reckoning.

That pretty much what I said. A few on full time contracts (Kennelly, O'hA etc) and a few on trial contracts to see if they can adapt.

Its still a pittance compared to the number of Irish soccer players playing outside Ireland.

I don't think Aisake o'hA ever played at senior intercounty level, although I suppose he probably would have.

A more relevant question might be how many GAA players have turned down AFL contracts, you know, for the 'love of the game'.

[meriwether]

Now the Gah lads are questioning the entire concept of professional sport no less!

Easy to be smug and point fingers at the LoI when the state is picking up your wage bill, isn't it?

Are you lot seriously going to continue calling yourselves amateur sports if/when all intercounty players get paid and that amount increases depending on how far they get?

Come again?

Its still a pittance compared to the number of Irish soccer players playing outside Ireland.

But growing, you plank.
Professional scouts? The AFL are putting in place a professional infastructure in order to atke 3-4 players every 10 years.?

Also, there is no influence upon the LoI wage bill due to outside pressure.

Anyone playing in the LoI is not good enough to make it elsewhere.

Anyone who is, goes. Without exception.

Ive never heard of anyone turning down a club outside of Ireland becasue the wages were better in Ireland, unless its a toss up between Shelbourne and Colchester, and frankly, if your over 17, its not worth it anyway.

[Unbeatable South Derry]

And its patently ridiculous to compare professional soccer in the UK to Irish lads getting a few quid to play exhibition matchs in the US during their summer holidays, which is what you have attempted to do here.

Once again shocking lack of knowledge! Where did you get the idea they are playing in exhibition matches??

[Unbeatable South Derry]

Now the Gah lads are questioning the entire concept of professional sport no less!

Easy to be smug and point fingers at the LoI when the state is picking up your wage bill, isn't it?

Are you lot seriously going to continue calling yourselves amateur sports if/when all intercounty players get paid and that amount increases depending on how far they get?

Try and stay up to date on that matter. There is a fair chance the players won't be getting a cent.

[qtman]

Its still a pittance compared to the number of Irish soccer players playing outside Ireland.

But growing, you plank.
Professional scouts? The AFL are putting in place a professional infastructure in order to atke 3-4 players every 10 years.

And what will be the GAA's response?

Also, there is no influence upon the LoI wage bill due to outside pressure.

Anyone playing in the LoI is not good enough to make it elsewhere.

That isn't true. The top eircom league clubs pay better than several clubs in the Championship and pretty much all clubs below that. Glenn Crowe was on €250k per annum at Bohemians, and Drogheda United pay some of the best wages anywhere outside of the Premiership/SPL.

Ive never heard of anyone turning down a club outside of Ireland becasue the wages were better in Ireland, unless its a toss up between Shelbourne and Colchester, and frankly, if your over 17, its not worth it anyway.

That's the point. There are clubs of that stature to whom Irish players will go if they don't get paid in ireland.

[qtman]

And its patently ridiculous to compare professional soccer in the UK to Irish lads getting a few quid to play exhibition matchs in the US during their summer holidays, which is what you have attempted to do here.

Once again shocking lack of knowledge! Where did you get the idea they are playing in exhibition matches??

From meriwether.

Can I just state this again.

I don't claim to be knowledgeable, which is why I am asking questions of meriwther.

You don't appear to be that knowledgeable either. Perhaps you should read some of his replies.

For instance, you said there were a 'hell of a lot more than 3-4' GAA players with AFL contracts. It has been shown that there are 8.

[The SR]

Try and stay up to date on that matter. There is a fair chance the players won't be getting a cent.

As a taxpayer I hope not.

But if they do, will you persist in calling yourselves an amateur organisation?

[meriwether]

Its still a pittance compared to the number of Irish soccer players playing outside Ireland.

But growing, you plank.
Professional scouts? The AFL are putting in place a professional infastructure in order to atke 3-4 players every 10 years.

And what will be the GAA's response?

Dunno. But there will be knock-ons for the amateur ethos, that is inevitable, which chips away at your argument substantially.

[The SR]

[

Once again shocking lack of knowledge! Where did you get the idea they are playing in exhibition matches??

Merriweather!

Are you even reading this thread?

[qtman]

Its still a pittance compared to the number of Irish soccer players playing outside Ireland.

But growing, you plank.
Professional scouts? The AFL are putting in place a professional infastructure in order to atke 3-4 players every 10 years.

And what will be the GAA's response?

Dunno. But there will be knock-ons for the amateur ethos, that is inevitable, which chips away at your argument substantially.

If a times comes when there is a serious talent drain to the AFL, and the GAA holds firm on their current rules re. pay for play, I will be the first to commend them.