Brennan denies making error on rule book

GAA president Nickey Brennan has rejected an allegation that he misquoted the rule book in respect of the Graham Geraghty controversy last week. The Meath player had been seen on television striking Dublin defender David Henry in two separate incidents.

It is within the power of the Central Competitions Control Committee to review incidents that have been missed by the referee, but it emerged last week that the CCCC had decided against pursuing Geraghty in respect of the fouls.

Questioned about the matter at a press launch a few days after the match Brennan said: "On the basis that the referee had dealt with it and as a result of the DRA case involving Ryan McMenamin (Tyrone-Armagh in 2005), the clear ruling from the DRA was that once the ref had dealt with the matter, that's the end of it."

Writing in the weekend's Sunday Tribune, football analyst Gerry McDermott queried the president's response.

"But the president is wrong in maintaining that the issue cannot be re-examined. It can be re-opened under Rule 144 (d, e and f) which only came into being last January.

"The new law allows the CCCC to write to the referee, send a video of a particular incident and ask him for clarification as to whether he is still satisfied the correct decision was made."

Reacting to this yesterday Brennan said that the Tribune piece missed the point.

"I wasn't involved in this matter, but I knew that as I would be attending a sponsors' event I'd need to check the updated situation because I was sure to be asked.

"My reply was simply articulating the committee's position, which was that the referee had seen the incident and awarded two frees.

"The article in question quoted one small section of the rule, but the CCCC was aware of their powers under Rule 144.

"Having received the referee's report they were satisfied that the matter had been dealt with and didn't feel any need to ask the referee for either clarification of his report or reaction to the video evidence. The matter was closed."

Geraghty was consequently cleared to play for Meath in next weekend's Leinster replay against Dublin.

It has also emerged that Dublin forward Jason Sherlock will not be fit to resume with the Leinster champions next weekend as he has yet to recover from a hand injury.