McConville: Armagh media ban ‘gone to ridiculous level’

Former Armagh star Oisín McConville, pictured, claims the county’s behaviour has reached a ridiculous level after they pulled out of a scheduled press conference yesterday.

The GAA were left embarrassed when the All-Ireland quarter-finalists pulled the plug on an event set to take place in the Carrickdale Hotel.

Selector Peter McDonnell and injured captain Ciaran McKeever had been expected to be in attendance.

In a statement, the GAA said they would endeavour to ensure Armagh players and management would be available for interview before and after this Saturday’s clash with Donegal.

The latest act runs consistent with Armagh’s selective media ban, which extends to the national media, although Stefan Campbell appeared on Sky Sports after last weekend’s victory over Meath.

Their stance stems back to their Ulster quarter-final win over Cavan when manager Paul Grimley claimed “hysterical” media coverage of the counties’ pre-match row had convinced the GAA to serve three Armagh players with one-match bans as well as a €5,000 fine.

Cavan were also handed down the same fine with two players banned.

Croke Park had only been informed yesterday morning of the Armagh management’s decision not to go ahead with the press conference.

Head of communications Alan Milton said: “We discussed the event with the Armagh County Board and the relevant parties, and we wouldn’t have put it out there if there wasn’t an understanding that it would take place.”

McConville has been dismayed by the action and can’t understand how the management believe it will aid their preparations for Donegal.

“I was buoyed by the fact we were going to speak to journalists. I thought, ‘right, they’ve made their point’ and were moving on. But this now smacks of a county that’s looking for headlines rather than trying to shy away from there. For it to be pulled at the last minute doesn’t seem right.

“I have spoken to lots of Armagh people on this. The important thing to them is that the team are going well and that’s an essential point to make. The second point is people at this stage are just wondering what is going on.

“Most supporters could understand why they felt they needed to make the point and that’s probably fair enough but it’s now gone to a ridiculous level and this latest incident doesn’t help anybody. It doesn’t help the PR of Armagh, it doesn’t help the sponsors or the team.

“The focus has to be on Donegal and the massive task ahead of the players. But this stuff is just a distraction and it won’t help.”

McConville suggests Donegal, as much as Armagh, have been indulging in gamesmanship ahead of the last eight fixture.

He believes Martin McHugh’s “two-trick pony” remarks about Colm Cooper were an attempt to take the focus off Donegal ahead of the game.

“If you’re gonna be Hercule Poirot about it you almost feel as if they’re trying to deflect from the camp just as Martin McHugh’s comments at the weekend deflected on Donegal. Both propaganda machines are trying quite hard.”