In his annual report to this year’s provincial convention Ulster secretary Danny Murphy has called for a change of attitude to discipline within the GAA.

Referring to the proposed disciplinary reforms of the Football Review Committee, he said: “These may or may not be accepted by the GAA but it needs to be understood that the rules by themselves will change nothing.

“We do need to look at a change of attitude to the playing of the games and are predicated on developing a respect culture for opponents, match official, spectators and the actual association itself.

“We cannot continue to challenge authority, verbally sledge our opponents, treat supporters with disdain and expect to justify everything by the end justifying the means.”

Murphy also criticised the publicity surrounding the controversial Derrytresk-Dromid Pearses All-Ireland junior club football semi-final 12 months ago. “The negative publicity that emerged in the aftermath of this game was beyond belief. Such a development was obviously detrimental to the club’s chances in the All-Ireland final and such coverage was also extremely detrimental to our association.”