Colm O'Rourke admits he was taken aback by the reaction to his article about the GPA in the Sunday Independent last week.

Under the heading "Radical or redundant - the GPA is facing a stark choice", the Meath legend's take on the players' body didn't go down well with a lot of their members.

He wrote: "The policy of smothering the GPA with kindness has worked a treat. It does not exist as a radical body acting on behalf of players anymore.

"It is not that the GPA is inactive. If you look at its website there is information on a lot of very useful projects that it is involved in, mental health awareness being one of them.

"One of the main problems I have with the GPA, however, is the sense of elitism emanating from it. It represents inter-county players and is unashamed in doing so.

"In my opinion it would be far better off doing something for club players, who are ignored on all sides."

Responding to the criticism and a text - which the GPA has distanced itself from in today's Irish Daily Star - that described him as a "Meath Fcker!" O'Rourke wrote in yesterday's Sunday Independent: "In my 25 years writing a column for this newspaper I have never experienced anything like the fallout from last week's commentary on the GPA. I put forward the view that despite doing a lot of good work, the GPA has lost its way and the reaction was simply incredible.

"From one side, the GPA, and especially its inner circle, there was a torrent of criticism, but as the week went on there was a growing majority expressing a growing disquiet to me personally.

"A lot of high-profile players responded on Twitter to my article last Sunday, which I didn't mind in the least. At least until I learned that someone in the GPA had sent a text to some county representatives, who, by the way, are paid expenses for their services. The text was forwarded to me by a player a few days ago.

"It read: 'Boys, Colm O'Rourke is having a serious cut off the GPA today, I'm going to send you on a small graphic showing what we have done this year, anything you can do on twitter in response greatly appreciated! Meath Fcker!'

"Naturally, I took offence to this insult which was sent around the country in a group text. Does this condemn all Meath players past and present as 'Meath fckers' or is it just me? Are people from Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Kilkenny and all the other counties 'fckers' if they don't agree with the GPA or is it the sole preserve of Meath?

"Did Dessie Farrell sanction this text? He certainly did not mention it when he phoned me on Tuesday to discuss the article.

"The usual suspects led the charge in trying to destroy the credibility of the article but it was fairly obvious from the start that it was orchestrated. The usual guff about it being lazy and uninformed, and that I am out of touch, was trotted out.

"I suppose I am a bit out of touch with the sophisticated members of the GPA. Maybe it is because I believe in courtesy, respect and good manners."

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell also wrote his right of reply to O'Rourke in yesterday's Sunday Independent.

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