Players must stand up and show GAA that working together would be beneficial for all

Time was when players simply touched their forelock and did what they were told but while discipline and respect remain two key elements within the GAA as a whole, there is a much greater recognition that players must have an authoritative voice.

I am not suggesting for one moment that the tail should wag the dog, merely emphasising that the benefits to be gained from collaboration are manifold.

I believe that from its founding the Gaelic Players' Association did not enjoy total trust or confidence within its membership.

Indeed, there was a school of thought that clung to the view the new players' association was keen to perhaps bring professionalism into the GAA.

Generally in life you only get one chance in which to make a favourable first impression and if you don't maximise this then you might conceivably struggle subsequently.

Maybe from the outset there might have been a misunderstanding in relation to the GPA's motives but I think its track record has shown that it has played an invaluable role in taking the GAA forward. Yet I discern that many people up to the present day harbour suspicions about the players' body and are convinced that it goes against the grain in relation to what the GAA stands for.

But when you think of the way in which the GPA, which has grown in influence, has helped innumerable players with issues such as mental health, education, addiction, injuries and employment, it can quickly be seen that it is an organisation which is of enormous benefit to the GAA.

Indeed, the number of positive initiatives undertaken by the players' organisation over the course of recent years makes one wonder how the GAA managed without it.

It is perhaps no coincidence that the last three occupants of the Chief Executive's role - Dessie Farrell, Dermot Earley and Paul Flynn - were high-profile inter-county players who brought considerable acumen to the table.

Let's not jump the gun here. Given that ladies' football is the fastest-growing sport on this island and is currently enjoying a profile that would have been unheard of a few years ago, we should not rule out the possibility that a female might yet be ushered into the CEO post.

I would also suggest that maybe a club-oriented person could be appointed, someone who does not quite enjoy the same status as his or her predecessors but at the same time is capable of providing inspirational leadership.

It may have perceived faults but the GAA is by and large a democratic organisation from the grassroots upwards and this is one of the reasons for its ongoing success and why it remains as the biggest sporting organisation on the island of Ireland.

Yet I think that the appointment of the new CEO will be a crucial undertaking. It is to be hoped that it will flash out a message of confidence and will give a clear signal as to precisely where the GAA is going.

Given that the appointment is expected to be made at the outset of what could prove to be another truncated season with further potential heavy financial losses on the cards for the GAA in addition to other issues that require addressing, it is expected to create considerable reaction and will, I am sure, be viewed as a stepping stone to a new era.

Certainly, everything appears to be in place to ensure progress and this will certainly be achieved through togetherness and positivity.

Ladies can reach an all new peak

It was International Women's Day on Monday - I was under the impression that every day is Women's Day - and this set me thinking about the part that they play in sport.

I don't think women have ever enjoyed the profile they are basking in at this point in time and certainly within the GAA they are continuing to make a huge impact.

Without doubt, ladies' Gaelic football is the fastest-growing sport on this island with the inter-county scene in particular flourishing. Many high-profile personalities are now managing county teams and helping to lend an extra dimension to the sport.

The publicity being accorded to the sport, the substantial sponsorship from Lidl, the huge coverage on TG4 and the fierce inter-county rivalries that have been built up are just some of the factors that have helped to give the sport fresh status overall.

Ladies' football is undoubtedly a product to be cherished and nurtured and I can see it continuing to make further strides with the passage of time.

The manner in which the ladies' governing body has been handling its extensive fixtures programme, the intensity which teams bring to the table and the increased crowds that have been attending games of late have been contributory factors in making ladies' football a hugely appealing sport.

Even the embarrassment emanating from the Galway v Cork fixture towards the end of last year when the teams found themselves being moved from pillar to post in the hours preceding the game did not leave a stain on the ladies' game.

I know officials were upset at what happened but believe me, such incidents are not unknown in the more elite sectors of Gaelic sport.

Yet sometimes the further you go down the pecking order the harder life can become and there will always be obstacles to be overcome but to be fair to the ladies they have got on with the business of fulfilling their fixtures irrespective of the difficulties they have endured.

I think the ladies now have the incentive to make the best of the opportunity they have been given because they are facing into a challenging environment that could see them script fresh progress.

When you reflect on how far the ladies' game has come, you are left to ponder at the same time just how far they can go in the future.

Their overall levels of organisation, dedication and desire suggest that they are still on a journey that may see new peaks scaled.

There may be a long road left to travel but the structures are in place to suggest that the future will be bright - and prosperous.

Let's pitch up as soon as possible

There would appear to be a body of opinion that would favour the start of the playing season on a 32-county basis.

To some extent this disturbs me because I am already on record as suggesting that should the Covid-19 threat be suppressed to a greater extent north of the border then the GAA must swing into action.

I believe this would be the right thing to do because young people in particular are anxious to get involved in training and matches once again, and I know their parents are equally keen to see them in action.

I am conscious that key decisions are normally taken by the Croke Park top brass but I cannot help feeling that younger people in this part of the world may be denied the right to enjoy participation because the Republic has not had all its ducks in a row in terms of vaccinations.

As far as I am aware when the decision was made not to resume playing until at least Easter, I don't think too many Ulster voices contributed to this conversation - indeed, I think this is something that has been thrust on us.

I would like to reiterate my belief that young people in particular should be afforded the opportunity to get back onto the pitch again, even for recreational purposes.

I can't see the harm in this given there appears to be a marked desire for a resumption and the fact that we have been informed there is a one in 19 chance of contracting Covid-19 outdoors.

I believe a resumption of activity as soon as possible is of paramount importance and I make no apologies for taking this stance.

I think the Health Service north of the border has been doing a superb job in terms of vaccinations and assuming this is set to continue, then the pathway to action will be cleared sooner rather than later so let's get on with it.