'I’m very disappointed with them and the lack of respect they’ve shown for their team-mates, for the management and for the Cavan team. Any fella that goes away to America won’t be wearing a Cavan jersey again while I’m in charge. I’m very hurt about it. There’s definitely no way they’ll be back playing while I’m in charge.' Cavan manager Donal Keoghan leaves Chicago-bound Paul Brady and Seanie Johnston in no doubt where they stand following their decision to play football in the USA this summer.
'We're not interested in Graham Geraghty. We have our own game plan and it's not up to us to make comments about it.' Dublin's Ciaran Whelan insists Dublin aren't bothered by the attention surrounding the Meath forward's actions on the pitch in the drawn match.
'One of these days some manager is going to manifestly change his attitude to the provincial series, probably creating uproar among the traditionalists. He will lower the pressure on his players, pick a few players in a few positions that he wants to test out and keep an ace or two up his sleeve in case the ’old enemies’ should meet again later on in the summer.' Former GAA President Sean Kelly believes that certain managers may soon sacrifice provincial honours in pursuit of All-Ireland glory.
'We definitely have had bad luck, but it will be a good test of our strength in depth. Last year we had a lot of injuries, but we still had a strong enough squad. And that is what a squad is for. It doesn’t matter how many injuries you have, you still have 15 players on the field.' Tyrone defender Dermot Carlin on Tyrone's continuing injury problems.
'When you’re playing 10 years at inter-county level, you don’t read papers. But I suppose we have to protect the younger fellas on the panel from that kind of propaganda. You don’t read the papers and I’m not inclined to listen to other stuff either.' Derry footballer Sean Marty Lockhart believes the older brigade need to protect the younger members of the panel from the media hype which suggest they have an 'easy run' to the Ulster final.
'We had a meeting last November and it galvanised the team a bit. We went on a holiday just before Christmas and that brought the whole group together. Coming into January we were going to give it everything, and hopefully it will work out for us.' Waterford's Seamus Prendergast offers one reason for his side's impressive year to date.
'Anyone who ever had a conversation with Eamonn Coleman was left in no doubt as to his passion for Gaelic football. He spoke from the heart and possessed a terrific knowledge of the game. The GAA was an integral part of his life and he will be greatly missed, even by those who never had the honour of meeting him but to whom he was a true icon of the game.' GAA President Nickey Brennan pays tribute to former Derry footballer and All-Ireland winning manager Eamonn Coleman, who died earlier this week.
'We thought we would only get odds of about 3/1 or 4/1 so we were surprised to get 10/1.' Gort hurling manager Mike Ryan on his initial surprise at getting odds of 10/1 from a local bookie on his side finishing top of their group in the Galway SHC. Most of the squad wagered €50 each and collected €7,500 between them when they duly topped a group containing Athenry and Mullagh.
