ARMAGH legend Oisin McConville has revealed his serious concern about the mental health of the Monaghan player hit with a two-year doping ban.
Former Farney county panellist Thomas Connolly received the suspension after admitting to taking the banned substance stanozolol. His claim that the violation was unintentional did result in a four-year ban being downgraded to two.
He remains, however, the GAA's first anti-doping violation following the effective clearance of Kerry's Aidan O'Mahony, whose 2008 doping failure was explained as an asthma condition.
Former All-Ireland medallist McConville said he accepted the 'zero tolerance' response from authorities to the positive test but argued that the GAA now has a strong responsibility to ensure adequate support structures are set up around the player.
"I'm just so disappointed for the lad to be honest," said McConville at confirmation that Setanta Sports will sponsor the Irish Sports Book of the Year awards.
"I'd seriously wonder about the lad's state of mind and if he's getting any help as a result of this.
"I had a fair idea he was going to be made an example of and that's a pity. You would hope now that there is some sort of support network there for him. It's zero tolerance and I wouldn't be against that, I think that's the way it has to be, but my heart goes out to the lad.
"I'm sure he's in employment or he'll be seeking employment at some stage and does this affect that? You've got all those things to consider now."
Connolly had a spell on the Monaghan panel earlier this year and participated in the Dr McKenna Cup. His ban extends to club activity and McConville questioned if this should be the case.
"For somebody like him who, if he's like the rest of us, has a world that revolves around his sport and the fact that he can get out and blow off a bit of steam kicking a ball about, for him to be denied that... that's why I'd be worried about him because he doesn't have an outlet now to express all of that and this is when he needs it more than ever," continued the Crossmaglen man.
McConville has been managing Dundalk IT's third level side in recent seasons and admitted that younger players in the GAA generally often feel under pressure to make the giant leap onto inter-county squads.
"There is a real hunger for young lads to get into county squads and a lot of young lads are willing to do anything to get in there," he said.
"Maybe this lad just thought, 'How can I get an edge?' I don't think that was actually the case here, I think it was a genuine mistake but I'm sure there's been young lads who have been tempted because it's so important for them to get into county squads and there are so many rewards for being part of an inter-county squad regardless of it being amateur or not."
Meanwhile, McConville hit out at his native Armagh's performance in last weekend's Ulster championship defeat by Donegal.
He suggested they suffered paralysis by analysis and thought too much about Donegal and not enough about themselves.
"It might sound a little bit too simplistic but when Armagh turned up at the weekend I expected the best prepared Armagh team in six or seven years and physically they probably were," said McConville.
"It's almost like, and I don't know this to be a fact, but it's almost like we were so wrapped up in what we had to do to beat Donegal - tactics, the white board, video analysis - that we forget to play. You could see it from the opening minute, basic errors.
"I think it's fine analysing them but you still have to go out and play. Maybe I'm simplifying it too much."
McConville said it's shaping up generally as 'the most predictable Championship ever', claiming that Donegal, Mayo, Kerry and Dublin are all virtually guaranteed to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals.
