SEANIE JOHNSTON MUST have thought he could finally concentrate on his football after securing a club transfer from Cavan to Kildare.
Not so.
The former Cavan GAA star had his switch to St Kevin’s approved by the Central Appeals Committee last Thursday and was hoping to make an impact at the Kildare club.
However, the pundits from the Sunday Game Live were not about to let uneasy transfers lie yesterday as they discussed the Johnston saga.
Colm O’Rourke, an All-Ireland winner with Meath, stated on the RTÉ show that ‘a lot of ordinary Kildare GAA people who would not be happy’ with Johnston’s move. He added:
The whole thing smells a bit.
“People have moved clubs and counties for generations and I have made the argument in the past that tying a player to a club when he is not happy with that club should not happen.
“There should be some possibility of release. This seems to be a little bit mercenary in nature. People are a bit worried about it.”
O’Rourke remarked that he was “surprised” Kildare had allowed themselves to get involved with the protracted transfer.
He did not spare Johnston from criticism and added that the player should have fought for his place on the Cavan team after he was initially dropped by then manager Val Andrews.
Brolly opens up
Former Derry player, Joe Brolly also weighed into the discussion with his opinion that the transfer, which will allow Johnston to feature for the Kildare county team, was against the spirit of Gaelic Games.
“You’ve got on one hand Seanie’s self-interests and the lack of loyalty to his club,” said Brolly, “But that is not really the big story, there has been plenty of boys like that over the years.”
Brolly declared that GAA is supposed to be all about ‘community and parish’, not about materialism and personal achievement. He added:
The transfer has obviously been set up. He has been given an address of convenience. He has walked away from his club.
“I just think all of those things is not anything to do with what the GAA is about. It is a damaging development,” Brolly added.
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