Asking players to sign on the dotted line of disciplinary codes of conduct is not the norm amongst inter-county gaelic football and hurling squads.

The fall-out from the Clare saga which resulted in Davy O'Halloran and Nicky O'Connell walking away from the county hurling squad continues to rumble on.

The Irish Times have spoken to four players, two hurlers and two gaelic footballers, and there is sympathy out there for players' plight.

"I think the boys' situation was very harsh," Wexford's Lee Chin said. "A team is based on trust and honesty. If two boys come forward and say there was no alcohol that should be believed ... you need a social life too.

"I wouldn't say bullying, but it was too far, it was out of order. If Davy didn't believe them and there is no trust and honesty there then, for me, they should just be cut from the panel. Not three weeks of that, it is humiliating.

"We're a very tight-knit panel in Wexford and I know if it went on here there would definitely be a bit of support from the panel, but I suppose the show must go on."

Westmeath footballer John Heslin wouldn't be prepared to put his signature to a disciplinary code of conduct: "I won't sign as I'll do it anyway. I will eat right and I will go to training. If not and if you're slacking off someone else will just take your jersey.

"At the end of the day, we're amateur players and if you want to do something you do it. And there are consequences for what you do. But nobody owns you."

Limerick is a county that has experienced disciplinary problems in the past and Donal O'Grady commented: "We know what went on in Limerick over the years and that it wasn't good enough. There are no collective drink bans or codes of discipline but an understanding that we needed to change that.

"Between diet plans and gym sessions and training and matches at the weekend, there isn't much time anyway. You can't be seen going to a chip shop, it's gone that crazy.

"But straight away signing a code of discipline says to me that there's a lack of trust in the squad. There is an honesty in most camps and stuff would be just flagged by a fellow player who would take him aside and have a chat."

Mayo's footballers know what is expected of them according to Connacht winning captain Andy Moran.

"If a group need to sign that then they are not in a good place to succeed anyway. We've always had leaders in our dressing-room."

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