Money Talks, But Will GAA Listen?

THESE are dangerous times for the GAA as Croke Park continues to drag its heels on everything from players rights to the rule that prevents other sports from playing on the sacred sod.

Dangerous times because county boards the length and breadth of Ireland are about to discuss the availability of the nation’s finest stadium to foreign games at their annual conventions.

And even more dangerous because several star players are being eyed up by very foreign bodies, as foreign as it is possible to find in some cases.

Australia is calling – and not just for the players who put on a show in the recent compromises rules tests that thrilled audiences in Perth and Melbourne.

Setanta o hAilpin, younger brother of Sean Og and already a legend of Cork hurling, is wanted by the Carlton club. And he is, according to those who know, ready to play for pay in a land down under, and all that despite the fact that he is known as a hurler and not as a footballer in this part of the world.

He won’t be alone. The Armagh forward Steven McDonnell, footballer of the year by a distance in 2003, was the one who really caught the eye when Ireland lost to Australia on that compromise tour.

The best Aussie Rules teams sat up and took notice of McDonnell last month with several interested in throwing some serious money his way.

Would he go? Yes – and his words on the possibility of moving lock, stock and barrel to foreign lands make for frightening reading for GAA diehards.

“The truth is that I haven’t had an official offer but I would definitely, seriously think about it if I did get an offer,” admitted McDonnell over the weekend.

“I thought Australia was a great country and I like the idea of giving professional football a go. There were some rumors while we were over there that there was some in interest in me and I’m happy that is the case.

“If I got an offer, I would give it serious consideration. I mean, it would be hard not to when you consider what it might entail. The truth is I’ve probably got what I want out of Gaelic football – I want to win more All-Ireland’s with Armagh down the line obviously – but if I got an offer now I would seriously think about it.”

McDonnell’s loss would be massive, not just to his Armagh teammates but also to the GAA as a sport.

He is one of the heroes of Ulster football, a role model for the youth of a province where sport has meant so much to so many in times of hardship.

If he takes the Aussie dollar then kids all over the country will be tempted to follow suit – and tempted to ask themselves why they would put an amateur game before a career.

McDonnell clearly knows where his bread is buttered. If the right offer comes along he will be gone in a shot. And Gaelic football will be all the poorer.

He won’t be alone. Unless the GAA learn to look after their players, and soon, we will see a rush to England, Australia, rugby and soccer, any of those foreign lands or foreign games where money is freely available for those with the talent.