Dublin GAA chief executive has blasted RTE for failing to provide coverage of gaelic games from September to May.

Costello urged the GAA to include a clause in future contracts with RTE to ensure coverage all year round.

"The license fee players whose primary sporting interests are Gaelic games are being short-changed," he writes in his report to annual convention

"Domestic soccer has the Monday Night Soccer while rugby has Against the Head but what of football and hurling?

"Even the Six One News on Sunday evenings gives scant coverage of football and hurling, just listing results in some willy-nilly fashion without at times informing the viewer whether its football or hurling, quarter-finals, semi or finals or any real detail.

"Surely Croke Park's powerbrokers should insist that RTE screen some live league action and ensure they do so by including it in the deal for championship coverage?"

The Erins Isle clubman expressed his support for GAA grounds to be opened up to support the IRFU's bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

"The opening of Croke Park a few years back to the hosting of international soccer and rugby games swelled the coffers of the Association at Central level. This money, I believe, was used wisely to protect the future of our games in terms of improving grounds and their facilities at both county and club level.

"In a county like Dublin, where the County Board strives to develop both hurling and football to the best of its ability from nursery level right up to senior inter-county level, there is huge pressure on finances.

"In a sense, the Association faces something of the same dilemma again as the GAA's backing and support (in terms of venues) will be required for the IRFU's bid to host the 2023 Rugby World Cup. A motion to give backing in principle comes before Congress in March and I would like to get the debate going early.

"Without putting the horse before the cart I would hope all County Committees and our members would decide at their Conventions or early in the New Year, to agree to help bring a major international sporting event to this country."

Costello also hit out at teams who deliberately fake injury in a bid to gain an advantage by getting opponents sent-off or easy frees.

"In teams who adopt this premeditated strategy, any sort of contact with one of their players results in that player collapsing to the deck holding the face as if dangerously struck.

"Such acts are cowardly and unsporting and measures should be taken to eradicate them from our games."

Gambling addiction amongst GAA players is also a cause for concern for Costello.

"I find myself increasingly fearful over the potential long-term consequences as GAA gambling takes an insidious grip on a growing number of our members. The fact that betting is so readily available now compounds the risk of those players who are vulnerable to addiction." Tweet

Most Read Stories