Johnston move denied by Croke Park

Seanie Johnston's proposed transfer to Kildare has been denied by Croke Park's CCC. The committee notified the four parties involved - Cavan, Kildare, St Kevin's and Cavan Gaels - yesterdayafternoon (Wednesday) in writing. Cavan Gaels chairman Michael Mooney confirmed to The Anglo-Celt that the club were notified and admitted that he was glad to see the issue put to rest. "It's nice for it to come to aconclusion and we can now concentrate on football and get him back inthe squad," said Mooney, who stressed that the club bore noill-feeling towards the 27-year-old. "Cavan Gaels always want to see the best players playing for Cavan Gaels and for the county. We definitely have no ill feeling, it was never an issue that he didn't want to play with Cavan Gaels, he wanted to play county football and felt that he wasnt wanted by Cavan. He trained with us recently and he was very welcome so there's no issue." The story originally broke on November24 last, when it was revealed that Johnston - Cavan captain in 2011but omitted from Val Andrews' panel for this season - had met withKildare manager Kieran McGeeney with a view to switching to theLilywhites. In December, Johnston applied in writing to the CCCrequesting permission to play football for Kildare without leaving his home club Cavan Gaels, which was refused. On January 12, he appeared before the Central Appeals Committee to appeal this, and the plea again fell ondeaf ears. Later that week, he broke his silence on the matter in an interview, explaining that he now lived in Straffan, Co Kildare, a revelation which came as a surprise to Cavan county board officers given that he had no family or work ties in the county andwas employed as a teacher in Cavan Town, 82 miles away. The board objected to the transfer on January 30 on the grounds that there was doubt over the player's permanent residency in Kildare. Johnston was subsequently summoned to appear before the CCC again, who have now ruled that they are unhappy to sanction the transfer on, it is understood, the same grounds. Johnston and Kildare still have the option of going to theCentral Appeals Committee and, eventually,the DRA. Mooney refused to be drawn on the matter of Johnston's residency or whather living in Kildare will effect his playing with Cavan Gaels.