Dublin has become the latest county to question the legality of the players' grants scheme in relation to the GAA's amateur status.

Although they decided against bringing a motion opposing the scheme to next April's annual congress, the Dublin County Board will bring that opposition to the next meeting of Central Council. This is what emerged from the county board's monthly meeting, which concluded with a 90-minute debate on the players' grants scheme.

Board chairman Gerry Harrington yesterday explained the implications of that debate, which suggested some considerable unease with any form of payment to intercounty players - even if it is within the strict limitations of grant aid.

"This matter was first raised at our annual convention back on December 3rd when some clubs wanted a debate on the grants scheme," said Harrington.

"I didn't have the authority to allow it at that time, but told them we would do so at our first meeting of the new year. This also allowed all clubs to go away and debate it themselves and come back to us with a mandate.

"So it was debated on Monday night under 'Any Other Business', and lasted at least an hour and a half. We had a very large attendance and I'd reckon between 30 and 35 delegates spoke on the topic, and I was a little surprised with what emerged.

"Some spoke out against the grants. Some said they had no problem with county players getting some sort of grant aid. But the vast majority of those that did speak had a problem with the grants in relation to the GAA's amateur status."

Many of the delegates came with a mandate on the matter following meetings within the clubs in recent weeks, and this also threw up some surprising opposition. "One club took a vote amongst its younger members and this resulted in a count of 4 to 1 against the payment of grants - that county players shouldn't get paid in any way.

"But we weren't presented with a proposal to take a vote on the matter, nor to bring a motion to congress opposing the grants. What was decided was that our Central Council delegate, John Costello, will take these views and opinions to the next meeting of Central Council."

Costello, who is also the county secretary, won't be the only one with those views at the next Central Council meeting, scheduled for the end of the month. Several other counties, especially in Ulster, also intend on raising the matter.

However, Dublin's decision not to bring the matter directly to congress is unlikely to prevent such a motion eventually being tabled. Yesterday, GAA president Nickey Brennan expressed his expectation such a motion would make its way to congress, and that if so "it should be fought on its merits" - and if it does feature it is sure to call for a roll-back of the awards or a specific amendment to Rule 11 to rule them out.

Harrington was himself a little surprised that the Dublin county board meeting didn't result in such a motion, even if there was still some time to do so: "No, that doesn't look likely at this stage.

"Because we didn't get a proposal from any club to bring it to congress I can't really go out on a limb, so it is left in the hands of our Central Council delegate at this stage. It did look as if the grants scheme was done and dusted, and that clubs would row in behind it. But clearly there is some concern about the lack of communication on it, and that clubs weren't involved in the earlier stages of the debate."