GAA and GPA All-Star awards to merge

Each All-Star will be given a cheque for €1,500 in recognition of their achievement, while recipients of the Player of Year award will receive €5,000.

THE GAA AND the GPA All-Star awards are set to merge after a deal was agreed with Opel, it has been announced.

It is the first time that the achievements of the year’s outstanding players have been recognised jointly.

In a statement, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, Criostóir Ó Cuana, said:

“We are delighted to be able to confirm that agreement has been reached with the GPA as part of plans to honour excellence in our games through the highly respected and much valued vehicle that is the All-Stars scheme, a scheme now enhanced through an amalgamation with the GPA’s Player Awards.”

Dessie Farrell, Chief Executive Officer of the GPA, also praised the scheme, saying:

“The announcement of a joint awards scheme under the sponsorship of Opel was a logical step in the partnership between the GAA and the players’ association and reflects the strengthening relationship between both bodies.”

The GAA All-Star Awards have been awarded on an annual basis since 1971, while the GPA Awards were established in 2006. The latter were voted on by players, while the former were selected by journalists.

However, under the new scheme, journalists will choose the team of the year, while players will pick the individual Player of the Year awards.

Each player picked on the team will receive a €1,500 cheque, while Player of the Year winners will receive a €5,000 cheque.

The ceremony, which will be broadcast live on RTÉ, takes place on 21 October.