It's deeply depressing as a Cavan man to have to come to the realisation today that Sunday week's encounter with Kildare will be our biggest match - in terms of the media spotlight - since the All-Ireland semi final against Kerry in 1997. What makes it even worse it that the attention given to it has absolutely nothing to do with football.
Many of the Cavan players will have played in matches which should be seen to hold much greater importance. Many have won All-Irelands at schools level, some have Ulster U21 or Minor championship medals and the backbone of the team will be made up of players who played in last year's U21 All Ireland final. Although Kildare are used to the limelight at this stage, their players are also being disrespected by the fact that the backdrop to this match is dominated by something which in truth has nothing to do with them.
The players (Johnston included), do not deserve the unwarranted pressure and media attention caused by the utter farcical saga. But yet the failure of officials to swiftly put this debacle to rest has resulted in a build up to a match which loses sight of what it really is. A game of football.
At this stage whether Seanie Johnston was right or wrong to request a transfer to Kildare has become a matter of irrelevance.
The fact of the matter is Johnston clearly decided before Christmas that by hook or by crook he was going to engineer a transfer to Kildare. Over half a year and a forest of column inches later he has gotten his wish, but at a monumental cost for both himself and the integrity of the GAA.
Whether we agree with Johnston's motives or not, we must take a step back and look at this situation for what it actually is. An amateur sports player who owes nothing to the GAA decides he wants to play somewhere else.In the near eight months since Johnston applied for a transfer numerous players have moved clubs or county. In fact another Cavan footballer, Alvin Galligan has since transferred to a club in Kildare. But in his case there was no cross-examination of motives, no demands for ESB bills, or dealings with the Disputes Resolution Authority. The move was sorted in weeks, not months. Why should Johnston's case be any different?
The widely accepted reason is that this will lead to transfers en masse, with top players from weaker counties moving to greener pastures in hope of major success. But this is completely unfounded. Headquarters are ignoring the values that they are trying to protect. From the age of eight players grow up in the realm of the GAA together. Rivalries and friendships are built that often go on to last a life time. There is more to football and hurling than just winning. A fact that those in power seem to have forgotten. There is the commerardary, the banter and the sheer love of the game. Success is not a goal, it's a by product. You don't have to enforce loyalty to your club and county, it grows organically. Johnston may have wanted to move, but he is still the exception rather than the rule.
That is why the GAA had nothing to fear with Johnston's transfer. That is why in their desperate attempt to protect their values they have done the complete opposite. To start with they've stopped a player from playing football for seven months. Football is a pastime, not a job. To tell a guy that they're not allowed play is like telling someone they're forbidden from playing the piano. Yes there must be rules but surely after a month or two the powers that be could have used their common sense? Surely it shouldn't have to come to belittling the integrity of the Kildare Hurling Championship in order for him to receive permission to play?
An even greater crime is that when the papers and pundits should be discussing the upcoming clash of two counties with the richest of Gaelic Football histories, the attention is focussed on this sidebar. When the players of both teams should be focussing solely on taking another step towards the third week in September, they are being unfairly distracted by a circus that has nothing to do with them, and one which should have been sorted out last January.
In Cavan some may never forgive Seanie for deserting the county. But despite his leaving us for another lover, the anger would have turned to acceptance and we all would have moved on with our lives. Instead the entire GAA family have been dragged into this horrible break up and we have all been left with a bitter taste in our mouth.
