The majority of players and managers chose not to give media interviews following this weekend's games in the Allianz Football League. The GPA boycott was due to a delay in players receiving expenses from the GAA for 2022.
In a note sent to GPA members this weekend, CEO Tom Parson said that "Until every player is paid their expenses for all collective sessions there will be action by players in response."
Parsons added that the GPA is "extremely disappointed that the GAA’s position at the start of 2022 was to continue with the cost saving mechanisms, ie players to receive a reduced mileage rate of 50c and to continue to cap players to be only be permitted to claim expenses for three sessions a week, resulting in all other sessions being at the cost of the player."
Just finished commentating Armagh v Kildare. This weekend there will be no post-match interviews. Players are all on effective strike over row with GAA & players expenses. Big issue moving forward- with more to come
It hasn’t been a positive week for GAA administration— Thomas Niblock (@thomasniblock) March 12, 2022
Some players, like those from Monaghan along with their manager Seamus McEnaney did give interviews, as did Kerry boss Jack O'Connor and Galway's Padraic Joyce.
"I have no interest in the GPA. I never had. It's beyond my pay grade, talking about the GPA to be honest, so I don't know," Joyce told RTÉ Radio One's Sunday Sport when asked about the expenses issue.
13 March 2022; Paul Kelly of Galway in action against Ciaran Russell and Conor Jordan of Clare during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Galway and Clare at Tuam Stadium in Tuam, Galway. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile
Galway continued the perfect start to their Division 2 campaign with a 2-8 to 1-5 win against Clare in Tuam. It added to their wins against Meath, Down, Offaly, and Cork. They are top of the second tier on 10 points with Derry in second on nine, and Roscommon in third on eight. Derry and Roscommon played out a draw at Hyde Park on Sunday.
"We knew that when we were coming up this morning that it was going to be tough," said Joyce.
"The pitch was very, very heavy. We're happy to get out of it in the end, the first half wasn't pretty stuff. We worked really hard, and deserved to win in the end. I thought we were comfortably the better team, and probably should have won by more.
"The performance today was good enough for today. Whether it's good enough down the line in a different match, we don't know.
"We knew Clare were going to be tough. They play very defensive, and are good on the ball, are able to mind the ball - they got a great start with the goal. We were on the back foot for a lot of the game. In fairness, the boys stuck at it well. They worked the scores. To get a score today was really hard.
"The couple of leaders on the pitch are really, really good. Kieran Molloy was good for us, John Daly. Cillian McDaid drove forward every chance he got. Johnny Heaney was very good. Players have to learn how to manage games as well. We can't be shouting instruction from the line the whole time.
"When Galway play, everyone expects them to play open, expansive stuff. There comes a time that you've just got to mind the house."
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