LIMERICK HURLER SÉAMUS Hickey is the new chairman of the Gaelic Players Association after being elected at today’s AGM of the players’ body in Athlone.
He replaces the long-standing Dónal Óg Cusack as the latter takes his leave after 13 years as non-executive chairman of the GPA and takes up a role as part of the management team with Clare’s senior hurlers.
Hickey, a member of the national executive committee for the past three years, has played an increasingly active role in the affairs of the GPA. He was part of the GPA’s Educational Review Group and recently helped manage the successful Super 11s project in Boston.
Dublin footballer Paul Flynn, another member of the GPA national executive and part of the association’s Educational Review Committee, replaces the out-going David Collins as secretary of the GPA. GPA president Dermot Earley, meanwhile, was returned unopposed.
Waterford’s Noel Connors and Cork hurler Stephen McDonnell have also been appointed to the GPA’s executive.
Speaking after his appointment today, Hickey said: “I am honoured to be elected as chairman of the GPA today. As a county hurler I realise the ability of the GPA, through the development programme, to make a profound difference to the lives of players who need to achieve balance in their lives due to the commitments involved in their sport.
“I look forward to playing a leading role in the GPA and working with the staff and officers in supporting our county players.”
Chief executive of the GPA, Dessie Farrell was quick to commend Cusack for his work with the association.
“The contribution of Dónal Óg to the GPA has been immeasurable. His leadership has been inspirational to everyone who worked with him. On a personal level it was a privilege to share the journey with Dónal Óg for nearly a decade and a half. Throughout those eventful years I can attest to Dónal Óg’s integrity, judgement, courage and passion.
“I hope that Dónal Óg will be able to contribute to GPA projects in the future and I’ve little doubt that he will continue to play an active role in the development of our games. In the meantime, I wish him the very best in his new role with Clare.”
Working in a voluntary capacity since 2002, Cusack has been instrumental in the development of the GPA. The three-time All-Ireland winner has helped champion the status of inter-county hurlers and footballers and played a pivotal role in brokering the agreement with the GAA which saw the GPA recognised as the official representative body for players in 2010.
Speaking after today’s meeting, Cusack commented: “While today is an emotional day for me personally it is an important day for the GPA as we look to the future and embrace change. I am incredibly proud of the GPA and what we have achieved together.
“I believe the GPA Player Development Programme, supporting our athletes to be their very best off the field as well as on it, is a model that will serve players and the wider GAA very well into the future.
“Of course there are significant challenges still to be met – none more so that ensuring county players increasingly engage with GPA programmes and do not commit to the games at the expense of their personal development. We need to ensure that the proper resources are made available to support our players.”
He’s only sorry because he didn’t get away with it. Should have been given the full 26 weeks.
@Dave Barry: it’s more than 13 weeks if he’s not allowed play until July.
@David Harkin: yeah 22 week ban it looks like unless I’m missing something
@Killian Bolger: They’re taking into account the weeks where he’d have no games specifically the 6 nations and champions cup rounds
@David Harkin: it 13 games weeks, it in the article. Not taking in to account any weeks where there are no games.
What goes through someone’s head to even think of doing this. Shocking lack of respect for a fellow player.
@Luke walkee: yes it’s a new low. Total disrespect.
@Luke walkee: South African rugby has a bad culture, huge problem with doping and discipline
@Luke walkee: snot I think?
@Luke walkee: The horrid inconsistencies in punishment are so frustrating. He gets a massive ban for spitting, Rory Kockett gets 3 weeks for eye gouging. Rugby authorities really need to cop on or there’ll be fewer and fewer kids playing the game.
@grandslamkbo: Yea I hear what your saying, they need to be more severe with dangerous play especially the intentional stuff. In saying that I fully agree with length of time handed out for this incident.
@Luke walkee: Sure. Ban this guy for 13 weeks. That’s fine. But eye gouging is absolutely horrific. It’s dangerous and potentially career ending. How the F is it worth 3 weeks? The authorises are hopeless.
@Batster: yep, and end up in Munster then
He apologized to everyone bar the fella he left his snot on
@Baz: or even Connacht supporters in attendance, like what example to young fans/future players is that..?
@ℝ: Rory Kockett was hit with a 3 week ban for eye gouging. This guy gets 13 weeks for spitting. What he did was absolutely disgusting but how the fu k can spitting be deemed 4 times worse according to a disciplinary committee? This BS randomness to serious foul play will stop parents from sending their kids to the game.
@grandslamkbo: he didn’t spit ,he blew he’s dirty f snot on the guy face ,low
@Martin: whatever it was, it apparently 4 times worse than trying to rip someone’s eye out. Do you not see how ridiculous that is?
Well that’s a relief. I tried googling the incident but autocorrect gave me Miko Lee instead.
No place for that on a rugby pitch…
@bread of heaven: that the best you can do. #trollmyars
@bread of heaven: calling bull…
Never seen or heard of it happening in Irish Rugby in 40 years of playing and following. A dig, most certainly. Gobbing on an opponent, nope…..
@Steve Fox: try rephrasing that the anywhere
@bread of heaven: Our club hosted Blaina many years ago but thankfully none of them were repugnant trolls like you.
@bread of heaven: Clive… You’re about two more troll posts on here before I let the irishers and your Welsh pals on planet rugby know about you’re ridiculous forays into trolling The42.
@bread of heaven: “era” (as you’d say yourself), you’re about as Welsh as Jim D
@Pseud O’Nym: no.. He is actually Welsh. Caught him duplicating posts on here and on planet rugby form.. Where he posts under as his real self… He’s a scarlets supporter who’s pretty reasonable in real life but comes to this site to indulge his weird anti-Irish fetish.
Pretty disgusting behavior.
@Ian Frizzell: keep your nose out of it!
Cleared his nose? He’d have never seen it again if he done that to me
@Chris Mc: the stuff in his nose?!
@Chris Mc: hard boy.
And they say rugby is a gentleman’s sport.
@Nosmo King: they actually say it’s a hooligans game
@Darren Byrne: indeed, the full as saying being…
Soccer is a game for gentleman played by hooligans, Rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentleman, and GAA is a game for hooligans played by hooligans.. :-D
Played a pile of sports myself, and far less aggro game to game in Rugby than in Soccer, the overt physicality takes a good bit of the edge/tension out. Being able to legit smash an opponent in a tackle or ruck really helps…
@Nosmo King: they say it’s a game watched by gentlemen and played by thugs, where as soccer is a game watched by thugs and played by gentlemen. Bit of truth in there somewhere.
@Mr Bojangles:
That’s the funniest, soccer played by gentlemen? More like played by cheating/diving/faking drama queens.
@james boylan: but watched by millions more ;-)
@james boylan: Read the fkn quote
@james boylan: Probably a better way of putting it James.
@Mr Bojangles: you’re just wrong.
Disgusting. Glad to see such a long ban was handed out.
Truly a disgusting act – suspension rather should be community service for 12 months
Is this an issue of breeding?
@Tom McHugh: no, it’s just an issue of a single ass h#le getting caught, don’t believe Cheetahs have a bad disciplinary record at all iirc…
It certainly put the disciplinary committees nose out of joint . It’s just snot on!
He deserves every week of it, disgusting…
What’s most concerning is the imbalance of sanctions for this compared to those getting away with softer bans for targeted violence…
He’d have gotten less for a punch!
@the druid: Nonsense. Rory Kockett tried to rip someone’s eye out. He gets 3 weeks. Are you really saying you’d want someone mauling your eyes over this? I’m not deserving this muppet doesn’t deserve 13 weeks, but how on Earth can spitting be considered 4 times worse than eye gouging?
Should have got the 26 weeks. Truly disgusting!
The same player was stretchered off the field with his neck in a brace in the corresponding match in South Africa in December. At that time he had the best wishes of all. Looks like he is held in less esteem now.
Probably yet another proud moment for his parents.
Definitely not a Kodak snap for the family photo album.
Credit where credit is due – Good multitasking.
No apology for the player he did it to??
S*umbag
Animal but not suprising of RSA gamesmanship. Waste of time letting RSA teams in to the competition in the first instance. Spend more money developing the game in Italy and let the Africans play soccer with their compatriots.
@Adrian Aungier: 100% agree with you
He shouldn’t be allowed back until he promises to keep his nose clean in the future.
Only good thing is he made an example of what type of player not to be. Dirt bird
Thats a serious punishment
……not to be sneezed at
Dirty f..ker… I’d end up serving a ban too
Ah
Yes its terrible….the Scots will want the ban tripled
Filthy
That is nasty! Clearing his nose onto the other player *dry heaving*