Costello injury a warning, says Maughan
Maughan revealed the full extent of the horror injury which rules Fergal Costello out of their weekend qualifier with Fermanagh, claiming that the accidental clash with Galway's Paul Clancy was potentially life-threatening.
Costello was stretchered off in the opening minutes of the Connacht final defeat to Galway, requiring 25 stitches after a sickening clash of heads.
But Maughan believes that the incident could have been much more serious. "This could have been life-threatening if, for instance, it had occurred at a rural venue, where there might not be medically qualified people on hand," he warned.
"There's a great lesson to be learned from our experience and I hope that people take a serious look at it regarding first aid training. Fergal was knocked unconscious in the impact and there is a big danger when that happens - particularly with a head injury - that the tongue might block the airways.
"If he was a boxer he wouldn't be allowed box for three or four months. His chances of playing are slim to none. I wouldn't jeopardise anyone's health.''
Maughan, knows his weekend opponents all too well, having managed Fermanagh the year before last. His only concern about the fixture is the timing.
"The one thing I was hoping for was an extra week," he admitted. "We have a huge number of injuries Fergal Costello, Gary Mullins from the Connacht final and subsequently, Gary Ruane, Trevor Mortimer and Brian Moloney who have not trained since the game. Some of our players were hoping we'd draw Armagh but I would not consider Fermanagh to be no lesser opposition than the All-Ireland champions.''
Fermanagh manager Dominic Corrigan believes that his team also got a tough draw, pointing out that Mayo would be considered 'the toughest' of the losing provincial finalists.
Armagh are not keen on the choice of Hyde Park for their meeting with Limerick, with manager Joe Kernan indicating a preference for Croke Park or Portlaoise.
"I'll be disappointed if we don't win the match but in a game like this you have to play well to get out of it. Limerick cut holes through Kerry in the first 20 minutes. The way they played on Sunday at the start they'd give anyone problems,'' he commented.
"It's obvious that the work that has been done is coming to fruition. They have some great players, a big strong midfield and (Stephen) Kelly in the half-forward line is a rocket.''
Paddy McKeever will be an absentee through suspension, but otherwise Kernan will have a full panel to pick from, with Oisin McConville fully fit again.
Limerick boss Liam Kearns agreed that his team faces 'a huge task,' regretting the fact that in four years his team hadn't got a break 'draw-wise, or any other way.'
"We just have to take the hard road the whole time, away to Cork and Kerry and now it's Hyde Park. It's going to be very tough now to pick it up. What we need to do is not leave ourselves down.''
Donegal do have the benefit of a two weeks break (waiting for the Ulster final replay), but manager Brian McEniff indicated that it was a disadvantage not knowing who their opponents will be. Last season they beat Down by 12 points in the Ulster quarter-final and they last met Tyrone in the 1994 semi-final - when Donegal lost and McEniff retired.
Roscommon manager Tom Carr, likewise, feels that they are also at a disadvantage in not knowing whether who will be meeting until after next weekend's Leinster final.
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