SEANIE JOHNSTON IS still encountering administravive hurdles in his bid to switch his inter-county allegiance from Cavan to Kildare.
Johnston, 27, has submitted transfer forms for the move, but last week his appeal was rejected and he will now seek a hearing with the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).
In a highly unusual move; Johnston is not seeking to transfer from his club, Cavan Gaels. Cavan captain in 2011, Johston was unceremoniously cut from the panel late last year and that sparked his wish to play with the Lilywhites. Despite working and playing his club football in Cavan town.
Today, in an interview with the Irish Independent’s Colm Keys, Johnston (who now lives in Straffan, Co. Kildare) said:
“I’m resident in Kildare now and I’m surplus to requirements in Cavan. That much was clear from the 10-second conversation I had with the manager (Val Andrews) last October.
“But I still feel I have a lot to contribute at inter-county level. You only have short time at this level and I’d like to make it count.”
Kildare said they had no comment to make on the matter as it was ‘all speculation’ while a spokesperson for Cavan GAA told TheScore.ie: ”It is nothing to do with us. It’s a Croke Park matter now.” but added with sincerity:
“We have absolutely no ills agains Seanie Johnston and we would love to see him continue playing club football at the highest level in this county, and return to county football that way.”
As the situation stands the GAA are unlikely to allow Cavan’s one-time star forward to switch allegiance. However, in the interview with the Independent, the Cavan Gaels man posed an interesting question:
“Someone else has made a decision to end my inter-county career. I respect a manager’s right to make that decision. But does that mean that I have to cease being an inter-county player?”
“Some people will be annoyed with me in Cavan over my wish to move, but these are the circumstances I find myself in. I’m no longer a Cavan player.”
