THE GAELIC PLAYERS ASSOCIATION says it will ‘re-double its efforts’ to help intercounty stars who are struggling to find work.
The vow from the GPA comes as Meath senior footballer Joe Sheridan, looking for employment, leaves for America today.
The Seneschalstown man scored in the Royals’ league defeat to Galway at Pearse Stadium yesterday.
“It brings it home,” GPA spokesman, Sean Potts told TheScore this afternoon. “This is a stark reminder of how bad things can get but hopefully it will work out for Joe and he’ll eventually come back. From the sport’s point of view, the game really can’t afford to lose fellas of his profile – it needs people like that to sustain it really.
“We’ve done a lot of work with Joe in the past and he’s a great character and a great guy and I know he was trying to set up his own business but it’s very, very difficult in the current climate and it’s very hard for us, at the moment, to find work for people. But as I say I think it’s a stark reminder of how difficult things are and it shows us that we have to redouble our efforts to help people.”
The 27-year-old — who scored that controversial Leinster final goal against Louth in 2010 – last night released a statement in which he wished his team-mates well and thanked members of the county board for trying to find him employment.
Sheridan said: “After a lot of thought I have decided to emigrate to take up an opportunity I simply could not refuse. I finalised my decision to travel on Friday last.”
Potts insists the GPA must now focus on helping players when they graduate to senior intercounty level.
“The key and the challenge I suppose for us is to get guys when they come onto the intercounty scene, give them good advice and set them on a path in which they’re pursuing something that’s sustainable,” he said. “Joe sadly is an example of how bad things are and can be and he’s a massive loss to the game but he’ll play some ball over there too I’m sure and hopefully things will work out and we’ll see him again soon.”
This is a sin. The people of this age will not be returning until they retire. Shame on all our governments.
how is he committing a sin, by moving to another country?
The Irish Henry has to go and find work boo whoo…. what about the thousands of other decent people that leave your shores every week, just because he’s a gaa player something has to be done to find him a job….!@#$ off
Yes it does. He promotes all things good about this country when he plays for free on sundays. He is more entitled to a job because he gives back something.
Couldn’t agree more Niall. I like the GAA, but its players shouldn’t be put before non-players.
Well said Niall.
Why should he stay here with little job prospects & play free to entertain us. I dont think the gaa should go professional but not enough is being done for these guys to stay here.
A lot of young talented players will choose rugby over GAA. They may not make it but they wont get a penny for being a GAA player.
I remember in the 80s that hurler for Galway McInerney the wing back emigrated but came back to play county every summer. He always stood out with his mullet and coloured boots.
Times really are bad if the boys can’t get jobs. Best of luck to him and other inter county players that emigrate. As an emigrant myself, I know all about it!
This is happening daily everywhere around the country. Club teams especially rural ones are been decimated by emigration. The quality of hurling and football will continue to decline for many years to come and will cause serious problems to the gaa and viewership figures, in the stands and on tv.
True, but the quality will increase in other ways as the diaspora spreads the sport to new audiences. The London GAA team is flourishing for example and they’re attracting alot of people outside the Irish community, particularly at underage level. I recently read about a gaelic football team in Zurich which has a good mix of Irish and non-Irish members.
Finest goal ever scored in Croke Park. Legend.
Lol sure it’s a bit of craic.
your having a laugh LEGEND never heard of him Up The Dubs
I have seen Joe attend loads of charity fundraising events, give training sessions to underage kids etc etc. Only last week he presented a medal to my Girl at the local GAA club which all the kids loved…. He will be missed and not just on the pitch. A true ambassador for the game….
A true ambassador that’s a little rich, this player will be remembered for cheating rather than his community work.
A true ambassador that’s a little rich, this player will be remembered for cheating rather than his community work.
more entitled !! Jesus Christ that’s an unbelievable comment Michael J
Dead right … High profile Kerry footballer hasn’t worked in 7 months but has just received his brand new sponsored car.
Maybe but its my view.
London v New York for All-Ireland 2016!
Am sure canada will be able to put a good team together soon.
Toronto V Sydney?
He’ll be missed. Probably not by anyone from Louth though:)
Well said, Michael.
(gah, that should be up the page under Michael J Hartnett’s comment. Must learn better how to use Internetz)
@niall holmes, stick to cricket comments or something that makes sense…he didn’t cheat…the Ref and umpires made the mistake. Joe is a real ambassador…
“he didn’t cheat” oh my god enough said
A lot of ill informed comment on here. Did anyone hear the interview about this with another Meath player and a sports journalist, also a Meath native, on Newstalk tonight? According to them, and I think they would both know, it’s Joe’s personal choice. He’s not unemployed, he has a job here and was offered other jobs by GAA connections. He didn’t want them. He has decided he wants to go and take an opportunity that has come his way. So stop this nonsense about this being the “governments fault” or anyone else’s for that matter. In this case it’s just another young man off on an adventure because he wants to. Good luck to him, I hope it works out.
My heart bleeds, Up the Dubs
So some woolyback gaah player does a bunk to the states and we are supposed to care?
The whole country is doing the same bunk but our govt couldn’t give a damn.
Who said you have to care about him, relax the cracks my dear man.
I wish him well, shame his own country can’t support him the government should be ashamed…
the Gov should be ashamed cause this guy wanted to move to another country?
He clearly didn’t want to move. Economic climate forced him, like many players across the country, to move
nope, he was offered a job here and refused it, he decided to move to US despite having a job here.
Prick threw the ball into the net illegally then brow beated the umpire into telling the ref it was a legitimate goal. this is a great day for Louth!
Check your facts, the ref went in and told the umpire it was a goal not vice versa. Your use of such terminology about a man you probably dont even know is rather pathetic. Would you like to use the same phrase to describe those convicted of assaulting the referee in the aftermath??
The meath county chairman has stated in the Irish Examiner and RTE Website that they had secured a job for him here but he decided to take a job in the states.
the gaa has ample means to keep such players in the country by employing them directly (in a range of roles within the organisation) however that would be a step towards professionalism that it seems determined to resist. not sure if thats a good or bad thing tbh