The GAA insists it did not turn its back on former Derry star Kevin McCloy.

The 2007 All Star almost lost his life when suffering a heart attack during a club match last August and subsequently spent three days in a coma. Reflecting on his ordeal, the former Derry full back criticised the GAA for the manner in which they compensated him for lack of earnings, stating "the last people that I thought I would have to try and fight would be the GAA".

But the Association's head of media relations, Alan Milton, points out that everything was done to ensure that the Derryman was accommodated:

"He was officially informed on October 29th that his condition was not covered by the players' injury benefit scheme but seven days later, on November 7th, a cheque was issued to him from our benevolent fund," he told The Irish Independent.

"To imply that we sat on our hands is completely untrue. Our scheme is not designed to be catch-all cover. It is not a finite resource and it complements whatever private cover that players already have.

"Players really need to educate themselves about the players' injury scheme and what it provides for. All the details are on our website."

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