The 2017 GAA Congress will go down as a bad one for the club player.
Earlier today, Congress voted in favour of accepting the 'Super 8' restructure to the football championship, despite the Club Players' Association strong opposition to such a change in the structure.
The biggest blow was yet to come: in the last few minutes, the motion to officially recognise the Club Players' Association has been withdrawn before being voted upon.
The motion was proposed by Wexford and Tipperary, and it's official wording is as follows: "This motion seeks to recognise The Club Players Association as the official representative body for club players at all grades eligible to play for adult teams."
In the last few moments, however, both Wexford and Tipperary opted to withdraw the motion before it went to a vote. The withdrawing of the motion was greeted with applause in the room, meaning it would likely have been heavily defeated had there been a vote.
The motion to accept the CPA would clearly have lost given the mood in the room, so it was withdrawn #GAACongress2017
— Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) February 25, 2017
Former GAA president Nicky Brennan spoke against the motion, claiming that the CPA was under-represented, hurling-wise.
Brennan has asked the motion be withdrawn. Says CPA are very under represented hurling-wise. Wants further engagement. #GAACongress17
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) February 25, 2017
A delegate from Down also spoke against the motion recognising the CPA, and produced one of the more memorable lines of this year's Congress.
"Where would it stop" says @downgaa delegate who says a parents association might be the next thing! #GAAcongress17 @offtheball
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) February 25, 2017
