Northern Ireland's gays rights group The Rainbow Project has praised the "inclusivity" of a speech made by a GAA player following Dublin's St Vincents' victory over Castlebar Mitchels in the All-Ireland Club Championship on St Patrick's Day.

In his post match speech at Croke Park, Ger Brennan, who plays for Dublin and St Vincents, thanked the team's families for support, including the players' girlfriends and boyfriends.

"To the family, girlfriends, boyfriends of the players and everyone involved, there's a lot of work that goes into playing for your club team and the county, and there's always an awful lot of support behind us," he said.

"People don't often see that so I'd like to give thanks to all the families and friends."

A statement from The Rainbow Project said: "No big deal some might say but the nonchalant delivery says a lot about this guy and the inclusiveness of this speech and the sport. Hats off to Ger."

In 2009, All-Ireland championship winning hurler Donal Óg Cusack became the first GAA star to come out as gay.

(IT/MH)