Tipp minor misses final as ban reimposed

THE intervention of GAA president Seán McCague and the management committee in Croke Park has resulted in Tipperary’s John Boland missing out on the greatest day in his sporting life.

The Toomevara youngster has been ruled out of next Sunday’s All-Ireland MHC final against Kilkenny after the management committee of the GAA reimposed a month’s suspension on him following his sending off in a recent county championship game.

Boland, along with three other players, was red-carded in a North Tipperary MHC match between Toomevara and Kilruane McDonaghs, but were subsequently cleared by the board which freed him to line out in next Sunday’s final.

However, following a meeting between Tipperary GAA officials and the committee held in Croke Park on Sunday, the Tipp officials were informed that any player ordered off the field of play on a straight red card, must serve a period of suspension of at least one month.

Following a similar situation in Kerry recently where senior football captain Darragh Ó Sé was “cleared” to play in the All-Ireland semi-final against Cork despite receiving a straight red card in a county championship match, Mr McCague became involved and ordered probes on controversial red card U-turns.

He said he was asking a number of county committees to furnish immediately all the relevant details of decisions taken by them.

18-year-old John Boland now misses out on his last chance to win that coveted minor hurling All-Ireland medal. He’ll be over age next year.

It’s a decision that is very difficult to reconcile with given that Croke Park upheld the referee’s report on what happened to Tipp senior Brian O’Meara this time last year, yet they refused to uphold the referee’s report involving John Boland.

As a result of this latest action Boland, who plays at wing back on the county minor team, will miss next Sunday’s final clash with Kilkenny. The Toomevara player was ordered off, along with three others, in a North Tipperary MHC match against Kilruane/McDonaghs on August 14, but his report to the board, the referee said he mistakenly issued red instead of yellow cards to all four players.

18-year-old John Boland now misses out on his last chance to win that coveted minor hurling All-Ireland medal. He’ll be over age next year.

It’s a decision that is very difficult to reconcile with given that Croke Park upheld the referee’s report on what happened to Tipp senior Brian O’Meara this time last year, yet they refused to uphold the referee’s report involving John Boland. As a result of this latest action Boland, who plays at wing back on the county minor team, will miss next Sunday’s final clash with Kilkenny.

The Toomevara player was ordered off, along with three others, in a North Tipperary MHC match against Kilruane/McDonaghs on August 14, but his report to the board, the referee said he mistakenly issued red instead of yellow cards to all four players.