It didn't end there. For after 90 years waiting to claim a national trophy, Wexford footballers left Croke Park with the O'Byrne Cup and not the trophy for the Allianz League Division Three title which they won by beating Fermanagh.

And to complete a miserable weekend PR wise for the GAA, there were more red faces as Division Four champions Offaly were actually presented with the Division Three Cup after a trophy mix-up.

In an age where PR is so important this was an inexcusable blunder, which reflects very poorly on the sport at a time when image and how you project yourself is so important.

Playing the game at Parnell Park never struck me as being a very good idea.

If Croke Park was unavailable the GAA should have gone for a venue down the country, where it would have meant so much more especially when you had counties like Kerry, Derry, Wexford, Fermanagh, Tipperary, and Westmeath all involved.

It strikes me that the GAA's top brass have a very indifferent attitude to the League. It's almost as if they regard it as something that gets in the way of the Championship, otherwise they would be much more positive in its promotion.

For one season only they began the League with a top match, Dublin and Tyrone, under lights in Croke Park. It went down well but it was the one and only time it happened.

The Championship is a great competition, but it too could be promoted in a more positive manner. Why not once the draw is made pick out the most attractive match and then make it your Championship opener. No disrespect to Antrim and Cavan, but it's unlikely to pack

out Casement Park.

Wexford's Mattie Forde again showed against Fermanagh that he's a special talent. He's right up there with the top forwards in the game. He reminds me in many respects of Wayne Rooney. He needs very little back-lift before striking a ball and he appears to do it all with a minimum of

fuss or effort. All in the one movement he can turn, bang and shoot and before you know it's in the back of the net. What makes him so lethal is his ability to operate in very limited space.

There's no doubt in my mind if he was playing with one of the top counties he would be a superstar. Wexford are a limited enough side but with him they are capable of threatening the best. Fermanagh will be disappointed, but you cannot afford to concede three goals at this level and hope to survive. It certainly gives them a lot to think about between now and the Championship meeting with Monaghan, but it's better finding out now rather than on a May afternoon in Enniskillen.

Another player to catch my eye over the weekend was Westmeath full forward Denis Glennon. The great thing about him is that he's big and strong with pace to burn allied with all the skills.

I was impressed with Derry against Kerry. They got off to a bad start, but they remained composed and never panicked. They showed major character in the manner in which they went about their afternoon's work. I was down at a function in Bannagher GAA club the week before the match and I went away very impressed with their quiet confidence and how they were approaching the game. There were times when Kerry looked well off the pace, but it's much too early for them to be peaking just yet. They don't really have to play a game until the end of July when they play Cork in the Munster final.

And yet it was an important win for Derry in that it will do wonders for their self belief, but they must keep things in perspective. As Eamonn Coleman used to say you win nothing in April or May. Their whole focus has to be Donegal in the Championship in Ballybofey later this month. We found to our cost last year that any team going to Ballybofey in the Championship will be very much up against it.

In contrast Kerry won't have a Championship match for about 12 or 13 weeks and by then they will be a lot sharper and in much better shape, mentally and physically.

There's no doubt that trainer John McCloskey has made a significant contribution to Derry's success and he's always one for speaking his mind. He made some unflattering remarks about Kerry at half time last Sunday, which believe me Kerry will be quick to seize upon before the Championship runs its course.

The one thing you don't do in this business is to give teams like Kerry any ammunition. They have more than enough going for them as things stand.