By Kevin Murphy
JJ Delaney says there should be no complacency among the hurling fraternity following the two-year suspension handed down to Monaghan footballer Thomas Connolly.
The former Kilkenny defender believes that performance enhancing substances could easily cross codes. Delaney said: “I suppose, a lot of counties will be playing club football and hurling anyway. If it’s in one, it’s going to come into the other one. “
Delaney is the holder of nine All Ireland medals and is regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time. He now works as a Sky Sports pundit following his retirement from intercounty hurling in 2014.
Surprisingly Delaney revealed that he had never been drug tested during a glittering 13-year career at the highest level of the game but he gave a simple dilemma that many players can encounter.
“There is a bit of a grey area because if you take Lemsip, You’re ok. If you take Lemsip Plus, you could turn up positive and it tells positive or negative- it doesn’t tell you exactly why you actually failed it so there’s a grey area there for amateur players.”
The use of performance enhancing drug Stanozolol by Connolly sent shock waves through the GAA community, but the player himself needs to be cared for according to Armagh great Oisín McConville.
The former Crossmaglen Rangers star, who battled through a much publicised gambling problem, revealed he has serious concerns about the mental health of the Monaghan player.
Speaking at the launch of Setanta Sports Irish Sports Book of the Year McConville said: “I had a fair idea he was going to made an example of and that’s a pity. You would hope that there is some sort of support network there for him.”