Donnelly calls on GPA to revive Inter-pros
December 11, 2010Martin Donnelly is determined to see the once popular competition back on the GAA calendar and is recommending that the players' body be allowed to run it with the proceeds from the games to be put into hardship and injury funds.
"If the GAA, as they appear to have shown, don't want to run with it they should let the GPA organise it and make it the players' competition," he said in The Irish Examiner.
"The players are the people who sell the GAA and the public will support them. If they are allowed to promote and organise the competition, I have no doubt that it would be a success.
"As an incentive and for their efforts, the gate receipts could go directly towards a central players' fund be it for injuries or hardship. God knows it's a difficult time for everyone but especially for players who are making sacrifices and holding onto jobs at the same time. This could be a thank you for all that they have given us.
"It would still be organised under the auspices of the GAA but by letting the players run it themselves, the GAA would be showing goodwill to the people who make our games such an attraction."
Donnelly has suggested that the games be run off as an end-of-season affair on one or two weekends around the time of the All Stars or the GPA's own awards. And he is adamant that the players want to see the games back.
"The reasons why I continued to sponsor the inter-provincials were because it is a competition that is 90 years old - we have four provinces and that should be represented in our games. But above all, the players want it," he added.
"If they didn't I wouldn't still be interested in supporting the competition. In London last year (where the football final was played between Ulster and Munster), Tyrone footballer Stephen O'Neill led a players' deputation where he asked Christy Cooney to keep it going.
"I'm still receiving calls from players who want to the inter-provincials back. Nine Kilkenny players lined out for Leinster last year. Okay, there was a trip to Abu Dhabi but they had 10 playing in 2007 when there wasn't."
The Clareman also revealed he is willing to sponsor the competitions again. Tweet
