GAELIC GAMES: Kerry's wing back Tomás Ó Sé faces a four-week suspension in the wake of last Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Kerry, in which he received a yellow card. Seán Moran reports.
Should this suspension, the minimum punishment in the rules, be imposed the player will still be eligible for selection in next month's All-Ireland final, as the ban would expire on a Saturday night, the eve of the final.
Ó Sé has been summoned, along with Cork's Philip Clifford, to face an unspecified charge - believed to be striking - relating to incidents during the match, which erupted into brawls at various stages of the second half, during which Tom O'Sullivan and Fionán Murray were sent off. Cork's captain, Colin Corkery, has been invited to explain his behaviour - which led to a red card - and his subsequent comments on the matter and the refereeing of Brian White.
These decisions were taken by the GAA's Games Administration Committee on Wednesday night after viewing a video recording of incidents during the match.
Ó Sé's case is the highest-profile because Kerry have qualified for the final. But thanks to the suspension system in force, he will be free to play in the All-Ireland final, whereas a Dublin or Armagh player who might commit a similar offence in next Sunday's semi-final would miss the All-Ireland.
Although this anomaly has been a characteristic of the rulebook, general attention has only recently been drawn to its unfairness. Any amendment will have to wait until next year's Congress.
The charge against Ó Sé is significant for another reason. It is the first to be brought under the new dispensation agreed recently by Central Council. This provides for players to be charged on the basis of video evidence even in cases when the referee has dealt with the incident by issuing a yellow card.
Last month Ó Sé would have been indemnified by the yellow card he received in the 42nd minute - even if the match footage clearly showed him striking an opponent - on the basis that the match referee had already dealt with the matter.
There may be sympathy for Ó Sé on the grounds that Cork initiated the brawls that disfigured the second half of last Sunday's match. It has been suggested in Kerry that he was retaliating on behalf of his brother Darragh, who was being targeted by Cork players.
This, the theory runs, was because of the older Ó Sé's controversial escape from suspension when the county board stated that he had no case to answer after being shown a red card in a club match. Conscious that he needed to be on his best behaviour, Darragh Ó Sé was allegedly provoked by opponents.
The Cork players summoned face different situations. Philip Clifford is also to be charged with an unspecified offence also detected on video. His involvement in the brawling seemed to cause concern to Cork manager Larry Tompkins, who replaced him shortly afterwards.
The calling in of Corkery is a bit of a surprise in that the Cork captain was sent off after being shown a second yellow card in the 60th minute of the match during which he had been very vocal, remonstrating with the referee.
The GAC are inviting him to come in and explain his actions, some of which - such as kicking the ball at an opponent - were inflammatory.
Finally, Semple Stadium in Thurles has been selected by the GAC as the venue for this year's All-Ireland under-21 hurling final between Limerick and Galway. Limerick are chasing a third successive title. Neither side are strangers to the ground having played there already this season - Limerick in both the drawn and replayed Munster final against Tipperary and Galway in last weekend's All-Ireland semi-final with Wexford.
