The Club Players Association, the body set up to address the fixtures "crisis" in the Gaelic Athletic Association, has been "denied the opportunity to speak at Saturday’s Annual Congress meeting about the motion to reform the football Championship," according to Paul Keane of the LONDON TIMES. CPA Chair Micheal Briody confirmed that a request sent to GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl to speak in advance of the "crucial vote" for a new "Super 8" group stage in the Championship "was rejected." It follows last month’s decision by GAA hierarchy to "similarly reject the CPA’s public call for the motion itself to be shelved and pulled from the Congress agenda" (LONDON TIMES, 2/22).
YET TO VOICE OPINION: In Dublin, Ian O'Riordan reported the Gaelic Players Association's opinion on the proposed reforms to the All-Ireland football championship -- and other GAA Congress motions -- will not "be known until Thursday." The GPA has been "canvassing the views" of its entire senior intercounty playing body ahead of this weekend’s Congress in Croke Park. According to a spokesperson for the GPA, a statement is expected on Thursday, outlining its "support for, or opposition to, some of the key motions," with "particular interest" in the proposed football championship reform (IRISH TIMES, 2/21).