DUBLIN GAA ANNUAL REPORT: DUBLIN COUNTY board secretary John Costello has directly attacked The Sunday Gameproduction, editorial style and the stance of the panellists in his report to convention.

Taking particular umbrage with what he termed the trial by television of former Dublin captain Collie Moran this summer, when an incident with Westmeath's Dermot Bannon was analysed to the point where it may possibly have influenced the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) into asking Armagh referee Pádraig Hughes to review his yellow card.

Hughes subsequently upgraded the sanction to a straight red card and Moran was suspended. Costello stated Moran "was subjected to a level of analysis following his shoulder on Westmeath's Dermot Bannon which raises serious questions marks over the editorial decisions and, perhaps bias, on the programme".

Costello referred to the recent scandal on BBC radio involving Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross "to see an example of when and how editorial decisions can go wrong in another TV network".

"Is a player only free from investigation when The Sunday Gamesays so? Is it right that they trawl the video looking for issues and is it right that the CCCC respond to what they they're being told by the pundits?

"Games are played in real time, not slow-motion re-run where RTÉ want to show off their fancy gizmos!

"Trouble is, the players are the ones who suffer. By all means use the video, but don't respond to every prompt from The Sunday Gamewho then see it as their role to dig out more examples of alleged skulduggery.

"However, one thing is certain - the editorial line pursued by The Sunday Gamewas not the same when the native counties of some panellists were in action.

"In such circumstances we had panellists bobbing and weaving in order to douse any fallout rather than inflame it - maybe it's time that Chris Tarrant was brought over to present the programme and it could be renamed: Who Wants To Be A Cute Hoor?"

Costello also gave his opinion on how the anti-doping policy should be addressed in Gaelic games.

"GAA players are treated exactly the same as all other Irish team sports, including professional rugby and soccer players here. They are not approached in their own homes or at their place of work and out-of-competition testing is implemented at team training sessions.

"However, the tests immediately after games are highly inconvenient for players. Players have to leave the dressingroom under escort for the isolation of the toilet cubicle. Routinely, players can be delayed for up to two hours after games and alternative transport arrangements have to be made for the selected individuals.

"I suggest that these tests are conducted immediately before the game or, alternatively, that a blood test is taken from the player."

He went on to criticise the current football championship structures that provide no second opportunity for provincial champions defeated in the All-Ireland quarter-final, noting it happened to Dublin in 2005 and again this season. Both being defeats to Tyrone.

"Will it have a damaging impact on the provincials now that we have had an All-Ireland final where neither of the teams won a provincial title (Kerry and Tyrone)?

"Would it not be fairer to limit the number of qualifiers who can reach the quarter-finals to two rather than four?

If the four provincial champions played off against each other to provide two semi-finalists, with the two losers playing two surviving qualifiers (play the qualifiers down to two) for a place in the semi-final?

"That way you're guaranteed to have two provincial champions in the semi-finals every year, while the other two have a second chance to make the last four?"