Pat Spillane thinks Cork should be the last county to complain about GAAGO given the large amount of funding they have received from the GAA to service the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh debt.

The Rebels have been especially critical of the streaming service after three of their Munster SHC games were put behind a paywall, but Kerry man Spillane has little sympathy for them.

“Every GAA championship match cannot be shown on free-to-air television. Furthermore, GAAGO is damn good value and generates much-needed revenue for the Association,” he wrote in the Sunday World.

“It is ironic that the latest outpouring of anger about GAAGO originated in Cork.

“More than any other county, they need generous handouts from the GAA over the next decade as they attempt to pay off the eye-watering €30m debt on Páirc Uí Chaoimh.”

Spillane acknowledged: “Putting three of Cork’s Munster hurling championship matches behind a paywall is a cynical money-grabbing exercise.

“Even though they haven’t won an All-Ireland since 2005, Cork hurlers still have a potentially bigger support base than any other hurling team. The GAA needs to be careful what they wish for.

“If they persist with this money generation policy through broadcasting, rest assured it won’t be long before the players demand their slice of the financial pie.”

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