GAA director-general Paraic Duffy has paid a glowing tribute to Frank Murphy, who has announced his intention to step down as Cork secretary after nearly 40 years in the position. "He has clearly made a huge contribution to the GAA in Cork and I would like to acknowledge his huge contribution to the GAA nationally," Duffy said in Croke Park yesterday. "He is the chairman of our Rules Advisory Group and had a major part to play in the re-writing in the current rulebook. "I'm sure he will continue to play a part at local and national level for a period of time and he has just started a three-year term as the Rules Advisory Group chairman and is a member of our stadium executive. "So, on an ongoing basis, he still has a huge contribution to make at Croke Park level, irrespective of what happens in Cork." Murphy's knowledge of the GAA rulebook is believed to be unrivalled and Duffy went on to say: "He will be very difficult to replace. "I think he really enjoyed working on the rules. Everybody is replaceable and we will have to replace him but he makes a huge contribution. "He has done so in the past and will continue to do so. He has probably made a bigger contribution than anybody else in terms of the drafting of the rules." Duffy, who was involved in the recent peace talks in Cork, said his dealings with Murphy go back much further than thanks to his time spent as chairman of the old GAC (Games Administration Committee). "I have found him fine to deal with and when I got involved (in the Cork dispute) everybody was doing their best to resolve the issue and Frank was doing the same as everybody else. He has made a huge contribution. "I know at times he has been involved, I suppose, in controversial issues but I find him a good person to work with. He is extremely capable, extremely competent and he made a huge contribution to the GAA and will continue to do so," he added. Tweet

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