GAA clarify McMahon suspension

GAELIC GAMES:THE GAA moved last night to clarify the situation regarding the suspension of Dublin's Philip McMahon after last month's National Football League final. A meeting of the Central Hearings Committee announced on Wednesday night a charge of "Disruptive conduct at games by players (not causing the premature termination of a game)" had been withdrawn by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).

McMahon and Cork footballer Michael Shields had been caught on camera exchanging blows on the way into the dressingroom at half-time. The CCCC proposed four-week suspensions based on the above rule but McMahon asked for a hearing.

According to a Croke Park source, on being informed by the CHC the appropriate charge was “striking”, an infraction that took place “during the match” even if it was at half-time, the CCCC withdrew their case and subsequently recharged the Dublin defender under the appropriate rule.

McMahon accepted the proposed four-week suspension. Neither his nor Shields’s – who didn’t look for a hearing – eligibility to play for their counties in the provincial championships was affected, as the punishment was restricted to the league.

Shields has already played for Cork against Clare in this year’s Munster championship whereas McMahon is named on the Dublin team to face Laois this weekend.

The only material difference between the charges is that the suspension for the infraction of “disruptive conduct” is applicable at all levels, including club, whereas a “striking” ban applies only to the grade and competition in which it was earned.

Meanwhile, at Croke Park yesterday TV3 launched their schedules for the coming season. The independent television station was awarded a three-year broadcasting package for championship coverage after the latest round of rights negotiations at the end of last year. The new agreement upgrades TV3’s package to include a higher proportion of the matches available – the GAA having reduced the total of live broadcasts for this season – as well as access for the first time to All-Ireland quarter-finals and All-Ireland final day, when they will cover the minor matches.

All live broadcasts will again be hosted by Matt Cooper, who will be joined in studio by panellists including Peter Canavan, Senan Connell, Daithí Regan, David Brady, Liam Hayes, Jamesie O’Connor and Liam Griffin. Match commentators Mike Finnerty and Seán Walsh will be joined on match day by analysts Paul Earley and Nicky English.

It was also announced the station would continue to broadcast a magazine programme – The GAA Show will be shown initially on sister station 3e at 6.30pm on Fridays before being repeated the same night in a late slot on TV3 and again on the same station on Saturday morning.

GAA president Christy Cooney said he was pleased with the expansion of the association’s range of broadcast partners.

“We are extremely happy to have TV3 on board. They did a very good job for the three years. They brought something new to the whole development of the game and how it flowed. You have a situation now where you have TV3, RTÉ, Setanta and TG4 so we have broad coverage of our games that can get to every place and that’s important to us. And you have Newstalk (which this year became the first station besides RTÉ Radio to be awarded national live broadcasting rights) on radio as well.”