Eight players face bans after brawl
Four fingered from each side and County Boards hit with heavy fines as GAA tackles pre-match mayhem
TOP ROW: Four Clare players facing suspension (l-r): Colin Lynch, Alan Markham, Barry Nugent and Andrew Quinn BOTTOM ROW: Four Cork players facing suspension (l-r): Donal Óg Cusack, John Gardiner, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín and Diarmuid O?Sullivan
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Thursday May 31 2007
CORK and Clare are facing the suspension of eight players arising from the pre-match bust-up prior to their last Sunday's Munster SHC quarter-final in Thurles
It would decimate the Cork defence for the semi-final against Waterford on June 17 as goalkeeper, Donal Óg Cusack, full-back, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and wing-backs, John Gardiner and Sean Óg Ó hAilpín, are understood to be the four who have been put on suspension alert by the GAA's Central Competition Control Committee (CCCC).
Four Claremen - defender Alan Markham and forwards, Colin Lynch, Andrew Quinn and Barry Nugent - are also in line for a one-month ban.
And while Clare are not due to play their first Qualifier tie until June 30, the four face a one-match ban as they will not have been scheduled for inter-county duty during the suspension period.
Both counties have also been hit with whopping fines. It's understood that Cork may have to pay up to €10,000 while Clare face a €5,000 fine.
Croke Park announced yesterday morning that the CCCC had proposed suspensions on a number of Cork and Clare players, but declined to identify them on the basis that the disciplinary process was still on-going.
However, the names of those allegedly facing action emerged from various sources in the course of the day, although they could not be officially confirmed.
It's understood that the charges arose from the offence of contributing to an affray which carries a four-week ban.
Video footage
The CCCC viewed extensive video footage of the row which erupted as the teams raced from the Semple Stadium tunnel and continued as they reached the pitch. Several players became involved in the scuffle which lasted for around 50 seconds.
Under the GAA's new disciplinary procedures, the CCCC have the right to propose suspensions, based on their initial findings.
Their decision is then conveyed to the parties involved who can accept the findings or ask that their cases be dealt with by the Central Hearings Committee (CHC).
If the CHC find against them, they can appeal to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC). If they're still dissatisfied, they can take their cases to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).
It's virtually certain that both the Cork and Clare players will opt to appear before the hearings committee and proceed further if the outcome goes against them, so there's still a long way to go.
It would be a sensational development if four of Cork's most decorated players were to miss the Munster semi-final.
There's no doubt that the absence of these experienced performers would hand the initiative to Waterford at a time when there's very little between the sides anyway.
However, Cork are sure to launch a vigorous defence as it would weaken their chances of winning a third successive Munster title if they had to face Waterford with a depleted defence.
Clare's predicament is not quite as serious as they are in a qualifier group with Antrim, Laois and Galway. With two to qualify, they would feel they could cope with a weakened team for one game.
Reverberate
The CCCC decision will reverberate through the GAA and place the new disciplinary procedures under their biggest test to date.
While Cork and Clare are in trouble, no further action will be taken against Laois and Offaly who clashed just before the throw-in for their Leinster senior hurling championship tie in Tullamore. This is because the CCCC ruled that since the referee issued two yellow cards, the incident was dealt with.
Meanwhile, there was good news too for Derry football after it was confirmed that Paddy Bradley will be eligible for Sunday's Ulster SFC clash with Antrim, after having his suspension for allegedly interfering with a referee in a club game set aside by the DRA.
The DRA ruled that fair procedures hadn't been applied and referred it back to Derry for a re-hearing. Bradley will be allowed to play in the meantime.
Footballers Brian Farrell (Meath) and Pat Harte (Mayo) have been banned for four weeks after straight red cards against Kildare and Galway, while Roscommon hurler David Loughnane has been suspended for eight weeks.
- Martin Breheny
