News: Salthill/Knocknacarra players Barry Dooney and PJ Kelly will miss the All-Ireland club football semi-final against Kilmacud Crokes on February 19th after receiving straight red cards in the quarter-final against London champions Tír Chonaill Gaels on December 4th.
Formal suspensions are yet to be handed down, as the central disciplinary committee do not meet again until mid-January, but regardless of what is revealed in referee Paddy Russell's match report both will serve mandatory, one-game bans.
Dooney was dismissed early in the second half for what the Galway Independent described as "the second of two heavy challenges", while Kelly followed him to the line in the 56th minute, just 10 minutes after coming off the bench. The same report described the incident as "a stupid kick at an opponent right in front of the referee".
The Connacht champions eventually prevailed 0-9 to 0-5.
The club intend to seek a personal hearing for Dooney, but will not contest a one-month ban Kelly is expected to receive. Neither player was involved in the Galway B league final victory over St Brendan's a fortnight ago.
"We'll wait for the referee's report but we wouldn't be too optimistic," admitted club secretary Tom Burke. "Both sendings off were harsh decisions, and although I'm not criticising the referee we will certainly be seeking a hearing for Barry Dooney."
Dooney's loss is significant as he provides the team with back bone in midfield, which will be a crucial area against the in-form Magee brothers of Kilmacud.
Along with goalkeeper Cathal McGinley and Conor McGauran, Kelly provides the link to the 1991 All-Ireland club final team that lost to Derry champions Lavey.
This year is the first time since 1990 the club have won the Connacht title.
In the other semi-final, Nemo Rangers are out on the same day against Antrim and Ulster champions St Gall's in Portlaoise.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny County Board secretary Pat Dunphy has supported the motion put forward by Dublin club St Joseph's/OCB regarding the restriction of UCD's hurling player pool. Although he supports the university's continued presence in the Dublin and Leinster club championships, Dunphy feels only full-time degree students should be allowed take part.
"That means no night class or masters students should be allowed to play in the club championship," he said. "Neither should a year's grace be granted to players who have graduated. These rules were brought in 10 years ago when UCD were struggling, but since the scholarship scheme has taken off they are strong enough without them."
In his address to the annual county convention last Thursday, Dunphy also recognised the strong link between Kilkenny and UCD over the years.
The draw for the Waterford Crystal Cup took place this week with five county and five third level college teams taking part in the new Munster hurling competition. Notable absentees, however, are All-Ireland champions Cork.
The system is similar to the McGrath Cup, although there is a shield competition for the first-round losers, ensuring every team plays at least two games. The first round of games take place on January 15th and will continue on successive Sundays. The final is on February 5th.
Further to a report in last Thursday's Irish Times, Dublin City University would like to point out that they did not raise the objection which led to the University of Limerick's expulsion from the Fitzgibbon Cup earlier this decade.
The question of UL's fielding an ineligible player was raised after an investigation by the Higher Education Council, and, although UL were expelled, DCU did not seek a forfeit.
Brian Carthy's The Championship 2005 (Sliabh Bán, €14.99) is the 11th edition of this now familiar record of the hurling and football seasons. Despite the growing number of matches thrown up by the expanding qualifier system, statistical details of all championship fixtures are here in full colour.
One of the year's more off-beat GAA publications is Jim McGovern's Coming of Age in Wexford GAA, an account of what he accepts is "not the story of a famous player who won every honour in the game" but of "an average but very passionate player".
McGovern came to Wexford from Longford and immersed himself in football in his adopted county, which he represented at senior championship level, before returning for a twilight spell to his home club, Colmcille.
A touch of the real world among all the stardust that occupies the GAA bookshelves.
Waterford Crystal Cup: January 15th (Preliminary Round) - University of Limerick (UL) v Cork Institute of Technology (CIT); Waterford v Limerick. January 22nd (quarter-finals) - Waterford/Limerick v Tipperary; Clare v UCC; Waterford Institute of Technology v Kerry; Limerick Institute of Technology v UL/CIT. Semi-finals on January 29th, final on February 5th.
