GAA president Nickey Brennan has revealed how compensation claims are speeding up plans to abolish pitch invasions at Croke Park. Brennan said that every pitch invasion this year had been followed by a spate of claims for compensation following injuries, and confirmed that from next year onwards trophy presentations will be made on the pitch in an attempt to curb the problem. "It's a very, very serious issue from our point of view in terms of the numbers claiming and the extent of the claims," he said. "We've always had people coming onto the field but if you pick up any paper these days you're constantly reading about litigation cases. "People are coming onto the field and they're more litigation conscious. If they get any sort of a knock, they're out to sue the boys here or to have a go at it anyway. It's a culture thing, absolutely." It's believed that the GAA contests the majority of the claims, but Brennan said the situation has the potential to cost the Association a significant amount of money. Meanwhile, the controversial Croke Park pitch has been trimmed ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland camogie and under 21 hurling final double-header. Brennan admitted that the grass was too long for last Sunday's All-Ireland hurling final as the GAA tried to improve the surface grip. "You would hope that next year's championship will be about the games and not the pitch. "The issue is not about cost and I want to emphasise that. Whatever needs to be done to get the field right will be done," Brennan added. Tweet

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