Manager ‘fed up’ discussing Johnston’s transfer saga

Kieran McGeeney has dismissed suggestions that Seanie Johnston’s transfer to Kildare is contrary to the GAA’s ethos, saying there’s “no need to wear black armbands”.

McGeeney said he was “fed up” talking about an issue that he feels is being kept alive by certain sections of the media, particularly as similar instances have failed to attract similar attention in recent years.

“There’s about ten footballers have done the same thing over the last six or seven years and nobody has ever talked about it” said the Kildare manager.

“Seanie is a good footballer, there’s no doubt about that. He was told he wasn’t wanted and he moved somewhere else. There’s one or two people in particular trying to keep it going in the press.

“He’s there to play football and that’s my thing. People can like me or loathe me for it. You play whoever’s available to you and that’s it.

“I’m not trying to bring down the GAA contrary to popular opinion. You don’t need to wear black armbands out there because we’re destroying the ethos of the GAA. They make good headlines for ye but for me and most people involved in the GAA, we’re all fed up of it at the minute and we all want to see what happens on the football field.

“This is what’s going to be in the paper tomorrow rather than the game. I think he’s a good player and I hope to have him available at some stage of the season.”

Meanwhile, Tom Coffey said that Offaly had a lot of catching up to do if they were to get to the level he felt they should be operating at.

“You can’t fault the guys; they gave it everything” said the Faithful boss. The last few weeks they were in bed early, the diet was 100%, and they turned up and went through the pain barrier in training.

“But you know the conditioning of that Kildare team and the fitness level they’re at, and it’s a credit to themselves, and Kieran McGeeney, and Kildare people.

“But, if you want to compete, you’ve got to get to that level and you’ve got to address it. And, at the minute, we’ve a lot of addressing to do in Offaly.”