GAA director general Páraic Duffy has hit out at the online reaction of various players and managers to the Super 8.
76% of delegates supported the motion, with only Cork and the Club Players Association rejecting it. The change will be brought in next year on a three-year trial.
The likes of Clare footballer Podge Collins - and, of course, countless others - led the dissent on Twitter after the announcement (Wicklow manager Johnny Magee went as far as calling for a strike), but Duffy maintains they can say what they wish; their tweets won't effect how the GAA is run as an organisation. He also insists the divide between administrators and players is being "driven" by the CPA.
Duffy said:
It’s being driven. I met with the CPA four times and the first two meetings were extremely positive meetings.
We didn’t change the narrative — I have never said one negative thing about the CPA. The strongest thing I said was I was disappointed they rejected the proposals out of hand.
I think the people writing those things need to look at themselves. I met them four times and I’m happy to meet them again — the GAA wants to engage. Michael Higgins is a national executive member of the CPA; Michael Higgins is a member, appointed by Aogán (Farrell) and I two years ago, of the central fixtures analysis committee. What are we supposed to do? It’s not being driven by us. You saw at Congress — the GAA aren’t looking for a row here.
I could go onto Twitter this evening and get any number of those (remarks). We’re not going to run the GAA by Twitter. If that’s what I’m going to get down to answering — Johnny Magee’s call — that’s his right. It’s a free country so he’s entitled to do that. As are all these other people.
Duffy also indicated that the GAA are 'open' to hurling restructure.
