By Brendan Cole
Former Donegal star Kevin Cassidy has revealed that if he were in the same position as Seanie Johnston, he would consider switching to another county.
Johnston has been at the centre of a controversy over an attempt to transfer from Cavan to Kildare which continues to rumble through the GAA’s appeals system and could yet end up before the Disputes Resolution Authority.
Speaking on the new RTÉ Thursday evening GAA show "Championship Matters", former Donegal half-back Cassidy said: “I would be sympathetic towards him on the basis that he is one of Cavan’s top players and he was told he wasn’t wanted by the previous manager and now the current manager."
He added: "The guy is able to play at that level. You want to challenge yourself and you want to play county football and he is entitled to move on. We don’t want it to be the case that boys are moving for success but it would be a different story if Seanie Johnston wanted away and Cavan wanted him."
Cassidy, scorer of a spectacular winning point against Kildare in last season’s All-Ireland quarter-final, has himself since been excluded from the Donegal panel by manager Jim McGuinness.
Asked about whether he had considered a transfer, he added: "If I was younger I’d definitely have to consider it. I’m 30 now and it would be different for me to up sticks and move to some other county and settle in.
"But Seanie is a lot younger. He has a lot more to offer in the years down the line. Obviously I love playing for my county and my club but it you want to continue to play at that level you have to go elsewhere."
Further explaining his own situation, Cassidy said he did not expect to play for Donegal in future.
He said: "Of course I would like to play for Donegal again. But the issue is myself and Jim McGuinness. Jim made his decision and Jim is there for five years and that takes me up to 34. It’s out of the question."
Current Meath footballer Cian Ward was also on the "Championship Matters" panel and he disagreed with Cassidy’s view, emphasising that the connection between player and place is vital to the GAA and describing the potential move as a "dangerous precedent".
He said: “It’s dangerous. It may be the situation that they have to be looked at on a case by case basis.”
Asked if he would be happy to see a player from outside the county lining out for Meath, Ward added: "No, I wouldn’t to be honest. I think again you have to look at the circumstances.
"If there is a fella who is living in Navan, has transferred to a club and is playing for a season or two and he wants to transfer to Meath....if he is is good enough then maybe he will be selected."
He continued: "It doesn’t sit well with me. I know this is an awkward one because he hasn’t been picked by Cavan and as a general rule of thumb, if a fella is good enough to play county football, his own county will pick him."
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