Cavanagh criticises Rules agent

CHAMPIONSHIP 2008/INTERVIEW WITH SEAN CAVANAGH:THE OBVIOUS topic of conversation when talking to Sean Cavanagh is that football match against Kerry on Sunday week. There is also the matter of Stephen O'Neill's dramatic return to the Tyrone fold.

We will get to both matters shortly but yesterday, at the launch of the Kilmacud Crokes football sevens in Croke Park, Cavanagh was asked about Ricky Nixon.

The former Aussie Rules player turned agent has grabbed plenty of headlines in both hemispheres because of his Irish player recruitment scheme. A clear and present danger to the GAA, the association hierarchy felt it necessary to meet Nixon on one of his stop-overs in Ireland this summer. Perhaps it was to stare the current enemy in the eye.

The cream of young Gaelic footballers were invited to a trial weekend in Mayo recently when professional AFL contracts were dangled in front of them. Tadhg Kennelly, Gaelic football's most famed export to Australia after Jim Stynes, has already publicly criticised the Nixon approach.

Sean Cavanagh lent further weight to Kennelly's stance yesterday. Having spurned the opportunity to sign professional terms in Australia a few seasons back, Cavanagh is currently preparing for the biggest game of his life. So too is his brother and fellow Tyrone panellist Colm - who is also on the Nixon shortlist.

It doesn't sit well with the two-time All-Ireland winner.

"Yeah, the guy Nixon was on to him. He has been emailing him and what not. Obviously Colm is focused on Tyrone at the minute and he didn't want to be involved with the camp. It is probably unwelcome at the minute in that he has emailed him and has been saying a few AFL teams are interested. You got to take these things with a pinch of salt. The same guy is probably saying that to 50 or 60 different young players in Ireland.

"It is disappointing to see that happening at the minute. I suppose they are trying to distract players from playing in the championship. I can probably say with good certainty that he won't be going in the future. He is happy playing football and this is where he wants to stay but, yeah, contact has been made.

"The guy who approached me was Gerard Sholly and he actually was a gentleman. He came to the house and there was no pressure put on you whatsoever. This guy Nixon is obviously sending around emails.

"I know he approached a couple of Kerry lads, Tommy Walsh, as well. I know it is not nice even to have that in your head at this time of year. You just want to be focused on one thing and one thing only, the football championship."

Back to local matters, Cavanagh is confident a back injury and dislocated fingers sustained against Wexford will have cleared up by September 21st.

And what of Kerry and that famed full forward line?

"People are saying Kerry are Tyrone-proof in that they have those twin towers up front up but equally the way we are playing at the minute we are well able to cope with those players, no matter who they bring on."

Any idea that it took a player vote, albeit unanimous, before O'Neill rejoined the panel was dismissed by Cavanagh.

"We had a meeting and I think it is well documented that the word vote was used. We just sat around in a group and it took us about two minutes to say to each other, look, Stephen O'Neill is one of us. He is a Tyrone footballer. He has given 10 years to Tyrone and when you know the guy himself he is so, so modest and such a nice guy that we knew there was no ulterior motive. Stephen O'Neill is a friend and family of virtually everyone in the team. To have him back was a great boost.

"We tried to get him back earlier in the year and obviously he wasn't right. The timing could've been better. It would've been nice to have him before the Dublin or Wexford games but to have him now might even offset against Darragh Ó Sé and Paul Galvin coming back for Kerry."

Cavanagh indicated that O'Neill is a viable option to come straight into the starting line-up.

"Stephen only got an injection in his knee three or four weeks ago which has allowed him to come back playing at this level. He has played a couple of club games. I think that is the main thing: he is over his injury problems and is willing to resume his intercounty career. It is not just for '08, it is going to be '09 and 2010.

"The guy doesn't drink, doesn't smoke. He looks after himself. He is a fitness fanatic. To have a guy coming in that fit and that strong is a massive boost and I think everyone knows what Stephen O'Neill can do. You're not talking about any Joe Bloggs on the street. You are talking about one of the best players in Ireland."