Dunne felt Offaly ‘isolation’

OFFALY footballer Nigel Dunne has pointed to an “uncomfortable environment” as the reason for his departure from the squad last week.

Dunne (pictured) put out a statement to outline why he left the panel after scoring two points when he came off the bench in their only win against Carlow.

The Shamrocks man has been used as a substitute throughout the campaign and scored the equaliser against Longford last month.

Maughan said in the wake of the last weekend’s defeat to Down, which puts them back in the mix for relegation, that he was “shocked and surprised” to receive a text from Dunne stating that he was leaving the squad.

In response to that, Dunne said Maughan had been “aware of personal issues going on in my life,” adding, “the text I sent saying I was leaving the panel was a result of weeks of an uncomfortable environment for me personally.

“I felt isolated and unwelcome in the set-up. I appreciate my reputation goes before me but this is a different scenario,” he said, adding that he wished the squad well for the rest of the year.

It is believed that Dunne, among other things, did not take kindly to aspects of a video review after the win over Carlow.

Previously, Dunne denied leaving the Offaly dressingroom at half-time in last year’s Leinster Championship defeat to Wicklow that prompted the removal of Stephen Wallace as manager.

Maughan has declined to comment on Dunne’s statement.

Offaly’s remaining games are against Laois and Sligo and it looks like Maughan’s men will have to win both to avoid the drop to Division 4.