Disgruntled ‘Mayo Mick’ vows to fight year ban for pitch incursion

Mick Barrett, the Mayo fan who ran onto the field during the county’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay defeat to Kerry, has vowed to appeal a one-year ban imposed on him by the GAA.

Five stewards had to remove Barrett from the Gaelic Grounds pitch after he attempted to confront referee Cormac Reilly during Mayo’s 3-16 to 3-13 extra-time defeat to the eventual All-Ireland champions on August 30.

Croke Park bosses have decided to act on the incident, with confirmation this week that Barrett has been banned from all games and activities for 12 months.

However the Mayo supporter last night remained unapologetic for his actions, which gained him national notoriety.

He said: “I got whispers that something was happening but the first I heard about a ban was in the paper on Wednesday morning.

“I was never called to any meeting or never received any letter or contact about a ban. My plan now is to appeal this ban, but I’m not sure how I go about doing that.

“I don’t think I have done anything wrong. But in saying that, there has been mixed reaction to what I did, here in Mayo — some people thought I did the right thing and others thought I didn’t.

“But the first thing I would say is that it wouldn’t have happened if the game had been played in Croke Park — where it should have been — and not in Limerick. There is no way I would have been allowed anywhere near the pitch in Croke Park.”