THE REACTIONS of the counties to their punishments are instructive. There is a tendency every time the GAA hands down severe decisions for the disciplined counties to feel hard done by. Meath and Mayo blamed the media in the aftermath of the suspensions which followed their sideshow in the All Ireland final replay. Meath felt victimised. Dublin feel victimised. Essentially such disgruntlement arises because of the inconsistency of disciplinary administration.

Teams in general frequently get away with breaching rules and are therefore dismayed when the book is thrown at them. The Leinster Council which suspended the teams is only one of five disciplinary bodies regulating the game. Although strict, it has a reputation as the most progressive of the provincial councils and there is no surprise in Leinster being the first body to get tough with inter county indiscipline. In the other three provinces or at Games Administration Committee level, there could be entirely different interpretations.

Liam Mulvihill's annual report refers to the desirability of having one central authority controlling all championship matches, from the appointment of referees to the administration of discipline. This would involve the provincial councils in losing some of their powers and so it is a delicate issue.

On the pitch, players have to be subject to continuous assessment. At present they can be booked every day but not censured. Even when they are sent off, the system of suspensions is so cracked that the most bizarre anomalies arise.

In 1991, Greg Blaney the distinguished Down footballer and hurler, was sent off in a drawn match with Derry in the football championship. He received a two week suspension, was back for the replay and the only team to suffer from his suspension were the county hurlers whose Ulster final he was forced to miss.

The inadequacy of this random form of suspension cries out for same competition measures. If, for instance, Meath and Mayo were missing suspended players for their demanding first round matches this summer, discipline would have bitten a bit more. Players have to be more afraid of the consequences of misbehaviour.