Committee to rule on minor brawl

What is the GAC and how powerful a body is it? Jim O'Sullivan explains.

THE Games Administration Committee is responsible for the control of games under the jurisdiction of the Central Council and for the administration of discipline in these competitions along with provincial senior championships.

The committee consists of a chairman (Tony O'Keeffe) appointed by the president and eight members (all elected), as well as a secretary (Croke Park games manager Seán Ó Laoire).

The eight members comprise one representative from each province elected by the Central Council, and one from each provincial games administration committee.

The chairman is part of a separate three-man committee which picks all the referees and linesmen for the games under the control of the GAC. Their meetings are usually held in Croke Park and are private. At their most recent meeting, last Sunday evening, the committee formally began its investigation into the brawl which occurred in the Cork/Laois minor game at the Gaelic Grounds the previous day. County board officers from the two sides have been asked to attend today's hearing. They have also been invited to bring any material witnesses to the incident to the meeting.

The committee will first set out a timescale. As well as considering the referee's report, they will view television footage of the brawl, supplied both by Chorus and TG4.

Once the counties have made their case (in the presence of each other) and any witnesses have been heard, they will be asked to leave.

The committee will adjudicate on the matters at issue. The expectation is that they will not be in a position to finalise their investigation today.

This will be the case if they identify individuals implicated in the brawl and call on them to appear before the committee. Under the rules, people have to be given three days' notice of a meeting. The controversial incident in which Henry Shefflin was injured in Kilkenny's replay with Clare, also last Saturday, will also be on the agenda. As in the other case, video footage (from RTÉ) will be viewed by the members. They will also have the report of referee Pat Horan who didn't see the particular incident.

The members of the committee are: Tony O'Keeffe (chairman); Ciaran McDermott (Sligo, vice-chairman); Paudie Doyle (Carlow); PJ Ryan (Limerick); John Heaphy (Monaghan); Joe Taaffe (Sligo); Jim Roche (Dublin); Frank Murphy (Cork); Tom Daly (Donegal); Seán Ó Laoire (secretary, non-voting).