Croke Park may have one of the most up to date stadiums in the world and hundreds of thousands of fans adore the games but when it comes to discipline and consistency they have a long way to travel. The decisions re the Tyrone Junior Club Derrytresk take the biscuit. There was a mass brawl between their players and Dromid from Kerry in the All Ireland club semi final. Substitutes came onto the park which was unacceptable.

For the first time in living memory the other side called for the winners Derrytresk to be excluded from this weekends All Ireland final. They had eight players including four subs banned and fined five thousand pounds.

Now today one player has had his ban overturned and can play. Others have had their suspensions cut in half and the fine also has been cut in half. But the GAA in their wisdom have decided that Derrytresk can no longer play in Provincial nor All Ireland competitions for another five years.

In other words a young sixteen year old player who had nothing to do with the actions of team mates cannot play in a possible top level competition for five years. Perhaps some of them may decide to concentrate on other sports.

Then we have the situation with Tyrone player Sean O’ Neill banned for 12 weeks for alleged verbal abuse of the referee after a Sigerson Universities game.

At the same time they are doing an experiment with the National league whereby like soccer, players now get match bans.  That has to be the right course of action. Time bans are rubbish, match bans hurt. But this week the Cork Captain was given a two match ban for an attempted head butt on an Armagh player … Which is worse abusive language or somone trying to head butt another player.

In my book they are both the same. Unacceptable and yet one punishment appears to be more harsh than the other.

The GAA needs to get a grip on discipline but they need to be consistent. You wonder if any county teams step out of line will they be barred from that particular competition. The chances are never ever. Never mind five years.

The GAA discipline decisions continue to appear to be off the hoof, and that like the incidents in questions do the game a disservice.