Gilroy's warning over professionalism
November 27, 2014
Pat Gilroy managing for the Leinster Inter-pros.
Pat Gilroy believes the GAA will encounter the same problems as rugby has if it decides to go professional.
The 2011 Dublin All-Ireland winning manager expresses his views in the Philip Lee Sport Report, which found that 80 per cent of GAA supporters are in favour of footballers and hurlers being compensated for their efforts. The findings in the Report come after 1,000 people nationwide took part in a poll last May.
Gilroy wrote: "At the professional level, it seems to me that professionalism has made sport worse in many cases.
"Sports aren't meant to be just elitist, only for the best.
"I think the experience of rugby in Ireland has been mixed. In some regards, it may have professionalised too quickly, creating problems 'down the ranks' at club level.
"Nevertheless, I expect the GAA will face the same challenges in the next 50 years, especially if the sport takes off in the UK and United States, driven by TV broadcasting (and initiatives such as GAA GO)."
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