TYRONE'S county secretary Dominic McCaughey has strongly criticised Meath's footballers in respect of last season's controversial All-Ireland semi-final and final replay. In his report to be delivered to this weekend's annual convention, he suggests that had firmer action been taken in the semi-final, in which Meath surprisingly defeated Tyrone, the brawl in the early stages of the All-Ireland final replay might never have taken place.

McCaughey claims that the abiding memory for many of his county's defeat is that of a "Tyrone half-forward" receiving a head injury in an incident involving "a noted defender from Meath".

This is a reference to Martin O'Connell who walked on the prone Brian Dooher's head when getting up from the ground after a collision between the two. Dooher required stitches. O'Connell has consistently denied that there was any intention to stand on his, opponent and the Games Administration Committee took no action on the matter after reviewing a video of the match.

"It is a matter of regret that such incidents were allowed to go unpunished at the time, or subsequently," says McCaughey. He concedes that the most obvious reason for Tyrone's defeat was that too many players failed to perform to their full potential, particularly in the second half, but adds to this: "It could be stated that Tyrone adopted a rather naive approach to the tactics employed by the opposition, especially in the first half." He goes on to mention other incidents in which two of Dooher's forward colleagues - Kevin McBride and Peter Canavan - suffered injuries after tackles described as "crude and clumsy".

He adds: "It is of course a matter of speculation whether, if disciplinary action had been taken then, the disgraceful scenes which marred the All-Ireland final replay would have followed several weeks later."

McCaughey also pays tribute to the outgoing senior management team of Art McRory and Eugene McKenna, who stepped down after the All-Ireland semi-final defeat having led the county to two successive Ulster titles - a feat unequalled for the previous 20 years - and from Division Three of the NFL to Division One.

"This county owes a deep debt of gratitude to both men for all that they have done during the past four years," he says.

Meath's footballers and most of their county officials are currently on holiday, but the newly-elected county PRO James Brady had this to say:

"The team are currently enjoying the festivities in Lanzarote and I would have no comment to make on that matter. The county has had enough of bad publicity and wants no more of it. I understand that Tyrone themselves have a bit of a problem (a reference to the outbreak of violence at the Tyrone Division One final before Christmas which is the subject of a county board inquiry next Tuesday) and are not whiter than white. They would be probably better off looking after their own affairs. The county officers will consider the matter when they come back."

Meanwhile, Clare's footballers will have a less strenuous weekend than a few days ago when they had to field a team in each of the competitions they have entered - travelling to Sligo in the Connacht League, which they are contesting for the first time this year, and playing Waterford in Munster's McGrath Cup.

The decision to enter two competitions raised a few eyebrows in the county, but manager John O'Keeffe is anxious to run the rule over as many players as possible given that Clare face a difficult Division Two campaign in the second half of league if they are to avoid relegation. In addition, Clare hope to be able to field a "second-best" team in this year's Junior championship - rather than one drawn exclusively from junior clubs - and the current activity will help in that regard.

In the light of the reservations about this extra activity, it was considered just as well that Clare won both matches last Sunday, particularly the McGrath Cup match.

O'Keeffe is also busy on the Railway Cup front as one of the Munster selectors. The province, beaten finalists last year, train tonight in Limerick and have a practice match with Kerry in Killarney this Saturday.

The reformed hurling calendar which begins a two-season experimental, phase this year has been criticised by a senior Tipperary GAA administrator.

Michael O'Meara, secretary of the South Tipperary GAA board, will tell delegates to Sunday's annual convention in Clonmel that radical adjustments will have to be made if the board's own championships are to be completed within the deadlines.