Kelly attends GPA event
GAA President Sean Kelly broke new ground this afternoon when attending a sponsorship launch hosted by the Gaelic Players' Association at Croke Park.
Kelly's presence marked the first time a top GAA official had represented the Association at a GPA function - today's being the launch of the official CE-certified Azzurri hurling helmet.
The helmet, backed by six county boards, was launched in the presence of Kelly, GPA Chief Executive Dessie Farrell and six inter-county hurlers - Brian Lohan (Clare), Eddie Brennan (Kilkenny), Brian McFall (Antrim), Paul Flynn (Waterford), Diarmuid Fitzgerald (Tipperary) and Barry Teehan (Offaly).
While a motion was passed at the 2005 GAA Congress making the wearing of helmets with face guards compulsory for players from Under-21 level down, Farrell expects the idea to be factored in at senior level in the coming years.
"The moves made recently at minor and Under-21 level are very much welcomed," explained Farrell, who was appointed to the GAA's Central Council in June.
"It (the wearing of helmets) needs to be become part and parcel of the culture in the game. I've no doubt that in years to come, as the new generation of players come through that they will all be wearing helmets with face guards."
