Had the GAC their minds made up before Monday night?

Connaught Telegraph

GAA News 23 October 1996


GAA Talking Point
by Sports Editor
John Melvin

While both the Mayo and Meath County Boards anticipated a fairly tough approach by G.A.A. over the All Ireland fracas, there emerged a sense of frustration in both counties that the whole point of bringing players in on Monday night was merely an exercise in window-dressing.

It would now appear that the G.A.C. whose job it is to dish out the punishment for misdemeanours on the playing field, had their minds made up long before any of the players from the two counties involved arrived to present their case.

This is very frustrating for amateur footballers who were called in like little schoolboys to explain themselves. A little like your teacher bringing you before the headmaster for bullying.

Mayo county chairman Fr Noel Forde and team manager John Maughan were with each of the players as they were interviewed and were happy that they had presented each case individually as best they could.

However, having presented each case, the G.A.C. did not ask any questions by way of clarification from any of the players involved. The inference is obvious. The belief is that the decision in relation to what disciplinary measures were to be taken had already been decided upon, long before Monday night's meeting, which makes something of a farce of the idea, that players were there to present a case in their own defence.

The manner in which the entire matter was handled has angered both Meath and Mayo and it is likely to be very high on the agenda when both County Boards sit down to plan the rest of their winter league programme, which has now been badly hit with almost half of the team from each county being wiped out until after Christmas.

This will present both Sean Boylan and John Maughan with a serious headache as they plot their respective league programmes.

Meanwhile, the suspensions have meant a set back for Knockmore who will be without Ray Dempsey when they take on St Mary's of Sligo in the Connacht club semi-final at Ballina on Sunday week.

Mayo will also be missing seven of their key players for both Sunday's clash with Laois and more importantly, the crunch tie with Dublin at Castlebar on November 10th as well as the final game before Christmas, away to Louth on November 24th

Fines and Suspensions breakdown

Mayo and Meath County Boards fined £5000 each

Suspensions:





Connaught Telegraph - News - October 1996

Connaught Telegraph - Sport - October 1996