Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Croke Park do not give a f*** about small counties
MCMENAMIN LETS RIP AT ‘CORPORATE GAA’
RYAN MCMENAMIN has launched a stinging attack on Croke Park chiefs over the Tier Two Championship.
The Fermanagh boss suggested the inaugural Tailteann Cup for the bottom 16 teams in this summer’s championship is a vanity project for GAA President John Horan and insisted: “The GAA is gone too corporate”.
“We all have to look at ourselves,” he claimed.
“I was out this morning coaching ladies and it was a joy to be out with them. I think the GAA has lost that.
“I can see as manager of a small county that Croke Park don’t give a f*** about us at the bottom.
“Maybe you are not meant to say that but that is my feeling on it.”
On Saturday night the three-time All-ireland winner with Tyrone, presided over what he admitted what the worst display by the team under him as they crashed to a 13-point rout by Armagh at home.
It leaves Fermanagh facing relegation from Division Two and potentially a place in the Tailteann Cup for ‘tier two’ teams in summer.
“It is not going to help the smaller counties,” said ‘Ricey’. “To me it was badly thought out. It was rushed and I think it was a job by the president.
“I think everyone wants to leave a legacy now, that is the dream of everybody.”
As someone who played at the top level for so long with the Red Hands, Mcmenamin is now seeing things from the other end of the scale in his first year in charge of Fermanagh.
“Tier one is basically for big teams. Everyone knows if Tyrone or Donegal were beaten in the first round under the old system they had four games to play, now they have only two.
“They have too many games and they want the big teams fresh. That is what the Super 8s is about.
“Everyone knows it is for the big teams, the top 16. Could it have been done better? Yes, you could have a Tier Two, but not with a five or six week break in between. It is madness.”
Armagh got a dream start with a class finish by Jamie Clarke for a thirdminute goal. They had 1-4 on the board before the hosts – who were without key players Eoin Donnelly and Che Cullen through injury – got on the board through Stephen Mcgullion after 25 minutes.
Armagh led 1-8 to 0-3 at half time and added goals from Aidan Nugent and Aidan Forker. Rian O’neill (below) was outstanding again, kicking 0-4 including three points from play.
Armagh are now top and host fellow promotion favourites Roscommon next weekend.
“The main thing for us is the aspiration to play in Division One,” said Armagh assistant boss Jim Mccorry.
“I would like to think we will have that ruthless edge when it comes to Championship.”