Fennell laments 'crazy' inconsistency in treatment of Brennan and McGuinness

Former Dublin midfielder Eamon Fennell has questions about the GAA's disciplinary procedures

Jim McGuinness and Ger Brennan Pics: Inpho

Former Dublin midfielder Eamon Fennell says the inconsistency in the treatment of manager Ger Brennan and Donegal boss Jim McGuinness “is a bit crazy”.

Brennan’s St Vincent’s club-mate and former county team-mate has no issue with McGuinness avoiding a penalty for pushing Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor at half-time in Killarney last Sunday.

It’s in the context of Brennan receiving a 12-week ban for a physical exchange with a Galway coach that he continues to serve and will do beyond Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Round 1 game with Louth that Fennell has a problem.

“These games are pretty heated, massively competitive and that’s the way the sport has evolved. It’s not the fact that Jim didn’t get anything, it’s missing Ger at such a key point of Dublin’s transition is going to really hamper us as a county going forward. I really feel for Ger in this situation.

“You have to take each case on its merits. Ger’s obviously paid the penalty. Three months for what he did, I would have my own questions about that.

“If that’s the route that you’re going to go with disciplinary action, then you have to look at each incident and there should be an implication but for it (McGuinness’ push) not to have any implication? I thought it was a bit crazy.

“It just felt like the GAA weren’t going to take any shit for lack of a better word around indiscipline and management interfering with players.

“Ger’s ban was severe enough and it obviously came before the provincials. He’s already missed three games and this weekend and now we’re in the business end and it now feels things have become lenient. A 12-week ban would have effectively ruled Jim out for the championship.” 

Dublin meet Louth for the second time in four weeks after they knocked the 2024 Leinster winners out of the provincial championship in Portlaoise.

Much has happened since though and Dublin losing a first Leinster final in 25 years (20 straight wins) will have knocked their momentum. “From Ger’s point of view, this is the game he would love given his massive connection with Louth,” said Fennell. “I don’t know how much can change in such a short period of time but changes will be needed after the Leinster final.”

Dublin aren’t expected to draw a huge crowd to the game, which Fennell knows from experience takes getting used to. “Going back to 2010 after we lost to Meath, we played Tipperary in our first qualifier game and their manager John Evans came into the dressing room after the game.

“He couldn’t believe the reaction we were getting from fans. They didn’t turn on us but not having the support we once had in the game.

“It was a real turning point for us. As players, we could feel it but for the opposition to say they noticed it as well was really concerning. Sometimes, Dublin do rely on that support but when it’s not there the opposition can get a new lease of life.

“From that moment on, it was really only about the people in the dressing room at that time and supporting one another. Totally blocking out the external stuff and I think now more than ever that’s a crucial piece for this Dublin group in unlocking the performance that they haven’t yet done.

“There can’t be any weak link. There can’t be any rumblings of people being pissed off or letting the outside noise affect their performance. It’ll be interesting to see how they’ve regrouped since the Westmeath game.” 

Fennell is buoyed by the form of Niall Scully, Cormac Costello and Brian Howard. “Scully and Cormac have been amazing and I think Howey has been really good in providing a platform in midfield.

“Having different people stepping up each time will be important if they are to make a run now. Sooner or later, Scully is going to be targeted in terms of squashing his influence. The same with Cormac, the same with Con (O’Callaghan).

“One of the challenges for Dublin to date has been the lack of impact from the bench to drive the game home where we have had that luxury in recent years. Now more than ever you need to see who are going to pick up from what the likes of Scully, Cormac and Howey have been doing.”