O'Neill hits back at 'fix' jibes from players

ALL-IRELAND SFC QUALIFIERS:GAA PRESIDENT Liam O'Neill has branded "outrageous" the comments of two intercounty players who stated Monday's football qualifier draw, broadcast live on TV3, was concocted.

Meath footballer Séamus Kenny and Tipperary’s two-time hurling All Star Padraic Maher both tweeted the round-two tie between Cavan versus Kildare was a “fix”. Kenny even tweeted the counties that draw the “biggest crowd” and “media attention” are put together by the GAA.

There is undoubtedly extra focus on Sunday week’s game at Kingspan Breffni Park as it could be Seánie Johnston’s first outing for Kildare since his high-profile transfer from Cavan.

O’Neill, when speaking at length on the issue yesterday, took personal offence from the player comments.

“I wouldn’t call it banter. It was one sided and it was outrageous to suggest that a draw would be rigged.

“They called into question my honesty and the honesty of Liam Hayes.

“It can be clearly seen that they were the sixth ball out of each pocket ,” O’Neill explained. “I’d love someone to demonstrate to me how that can be rigged . . . Liam Hayes twirled them and I looked the other way and pulled out the balls.

“Why on earth would a GAA president lower himself to the state where he fixed a draw? What value would it be?”

O’Neill continued, “But what’s really hurtful is I have never, ever criticised any player in my life as an administrator.

“I have never said anything bad about any player and I find it outrageous that people would tweet what apparently was tweeted about us and the message has to go to the players that doing it on Twitter doesn’t absolve you of the responsibility for what you have said.”

O’Neill labelled the tweets as “slander” and suggested further action would be taken if something similar re-occurred in the future.

“Those top county players have been trained by the GPA (Gaelic Players Association) how to behave and how to handle press and they know what they are doing. I don’t know what I have done in my life to suggest to them that I would be dishonest but it is just not good enough.

“I had to get up before 6am yesterday morning – I’m not a morning person – I had to go to the studios before 7.30 to prepare for it. I only met Liam Hayes a few moments before we walked into the studio together.

“Liam Hayes as you know is a very sober type of journalist. He’s not someone you have banter with. He is a very serious man and someone for whom I have very serious respect.

“His only comment on me wasn’t all that favourable so to suggest that we would collude on a draw is stretching it a bit.

“But for anyone to suggest that Liam Hayes would so anything other than the totally honest thing is outrageous and I’d like to stand up for him in the same way I stand up for myself.”

When asked if he would consider legal action in future, O’Neill replied: “I don’t honestly know. I have never been slandered before so I don’t know how to handle it.

“The one thing I will say for the players is they are putting their name to it but they might suffer the consequences of that. Not everybody is going to be as easy going as I am.

“I think people need to realise they need to be responsible for their comments.”

O’Neill went on to state he is not on Twitter but does advocate the use of social media by various branches of the association.

“I’m not into it, it’s not that I am gauche about the thing, it’s just I don’t feel the need to express my views every minute of the day.

“I am a shy person, most of ye know that, and it wouldn’t be me to do it. If people want to do it and express how they feel then fine but I think they have to realise there are consequences when they overstep the mark.”

On the issue of educating players about the use of social media the president noted such steps have already been taken.

“These people have been educated by the GPA on funds provided by us.”