Maughan unhappy with 'fourth tier' treatment

A layered system of preferential treatment regarding venues, fixtures and disciplinary decisions is prevalent in the GAA, according to Roscommon football manager John Maughan.

And after eight months in charge of Roscommon, Maughan feels the county are on the bottom rung in terms of influence.

The Tommy Murphy Cup match against Cavan, initially fixed for Saturday afternoon, has been switched to Tuesday evening to facilitate the Roscommon club championship but Maughan's team were forced to concede home advantage.

"Cavan are doing us a favour but we have to travel to Breffni Park on Tuesday evening. It's a shame really to give up home advantage but we had to in order to avoid a fine by pulling out of the competition.

"Rather than making the concession - I think Cavan forced the issue - if Croke Park had let the two county boards organise the fixture this farce could have been avoided.

"I informed my players that we would definitely not be playing on Saturday. Croke Park made the decision to set the fixture for Saturday at 2pm when, with just one phone call, they would have realised we have club championship fixtures taking place.

"They then offered to let the counties resolve it themselves. Farcical stuff if you ask me. We were under the impression that the Tommy Murphy Cup would be held midweek, so as not to disrupt the club championship."

The chairman of the newly formed GAC committee, Jimmy Dunne, has been away on holidays for the past week and does not return until after the weekend. But Maughan also noted this is the second time Roscommon have been stung by a GAC decision this week.

"Take the Roscommon minors," said Maughan. "Despite winning the Connacht championship for the first time in 14 years they have been handed a stand-alone fixture against Tipperary in Tullamore. The junior All-Ireland final between Kerry and Roscommon is in Ennis but Kerry are facilitated with a double-header as their minors play Mayo.

"Why not facilitate Roscommon? Why not put on a triple header? It would make sound economic sense. Instead the people of Roscommon have to make a choice. There is a four-tier system evident here. It has become more noticeable with some of the decisions of recent weeks.

"The top-tier teams are treated with greater respect and in my first eight months in Roscommon I've noticed we are on the fourth tier."

Maughan supports the concept of the Tommy Murphy Cup but he was under the impression that it would not impinge upon the club scene, which already suffers during the intercounty championship.

"If the competition is to prosper it depends on how the manager perceives it and sells it. I want to avail of the opportunity to say hello to my players again and drive on but instead we have this farce developing in the middle of our club championships."