KERRY FOOTBALL captain Paul Galvin has wasted no time in requesting a date with the GAA's Central Hearings Committee (CHC) in an effort to clear or reduce the 24-week suspension handed out yesterday for his actions toward the match referee in last Sunday's Munster football semi-final against Clare.

The lengthy ban - which has reportedly stunned Galvin and the Kerry football management - will rule him out of the rest of the championship, thus representing a serious setback in Kerry's quest for a third successive All-Ireland, and also realising Galvin's worst fears.

The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) proposed the 24 weeks yesterday after considering the report of referee Paddy Russell of Tipperary and examining video evidence.

Some sort of ban was always anticipated; while attempting to show Galvin a second yellow card in Sunday's game, Russell had his notebook smacked from his hands by the Kerry captain, who then proceeded to verbally express his disagreement before running to do likewise to the match linesman. Even his team-mate Tomás Ó Sé could not hold him back.

Under GAA rule 143, which deals with player infractions, a Category IV offence is "minor physical interference with (e.g. laying a hand on, pushing, pulling or jostling), threatening or abusive conduct towards, or threatening language to a referee, umpire, linesman or sideline official" and results in a minimum 12-week suspension.

Galvin did, however, avoid the Category V offence, which is "any type of assault on a referee, umpire, linesman or sideline official" and results in a minimum 48-week suspension.

The CCCC don't officially disclose the reasoning behind their judgments, but a Kerry county spokesman last night revealed there were three category offences (I, II, and IV) quoted with Galvin's proposed 24-week punishment; 143 (b) Category I (being ordered off on foot of a second cautionable offence); Category II (Abusive language towards a referee, umpire, linesman or sideline official, and which carries a minimum four-week suspension); and Category IV, as quoted above.

In Galvin's case, the CCCC went above the minimum suspensions in proposing the 24 weeks.

On receiving word of the proposed ban, Galvin immediately requested the Kerry board to seek a hearing with the CHC, as is his right, and that is likely to take place before the end of the week.

After hearing Galvin present his case, the CHC can enforce, reduce or clear the suspension, but nothing about the GAA disciplinary process of late suggests anything other than a full enforcement.

Following that, Galvin can then take his case to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC), and after that the Disputes Resolution Authority.

A reduction to a 12-week suspension would at least see Galvin return in time for the All-Ireland final on September 21st - provided, of course, his team make it that far. In the meantime, the Kerry captaincy is likely to go to Tomás Ó Sé.

On Monday evening, Galvin went on RTÉ news in an effort to defuse some of the controversy, apologising for his actions and also suggesting there was some provocation that resulted in his frustration.

"Clearly what happened was born out of a huge level of frustration, for me," he said.

"I've no problem admitting what I did was wrong. This year, personally, has been hugely frustrating. I'm captain of Kerry, and I haven't kicked a ball since the All-Ireland final last year. It was a big day for me, a huge honour for me, and I was really looking forward to it. And I worked so hard."