Waterford: why Mullane should be available for the All-Ireland semi

WATERFORD GAA officials are planning a daring challenge to the suspension of star forward John Mullane for the All-Ireland hurling semi final next month.

Sent off by referee Sean McMahon in Sunday's epic Munster final against Cork, the Clare official has reported Mullane for "use of the elbow". This is a Category C offence which earns a one month suspension and a mandatory one match ban which would rule Mullane out of the August 8th All-Ireland semi-final.

However, it emerged last night Waterford officials will claim in Mullane's defence that the one match ban should only apply to the competition in which the player was sent off.

"We consider the Munster championship to be a completely separate and independent competition from the All-Ireland series," Waterford chairman Paddy Joe Ryan said. "Our contention is Mullane should stand suspended for the first round of the 2005 Munster championship campaign."

Mullane is free to assist his club, De La Salle, in the county championship against Ballyduff Lower on Saturday week.

In fact he lined out with the club in a challenge game last night, and Waterford officials believe that makes their case for his availability for the All-Ireland semi final a cast iron one.

"John was devastated following his dismissal last Sunday for what was a spur of the moment and wholly unintentional misdemeanour," Ryan said.

"We believe the wording of the rule governing the one match ban is crystal clear and that his suspension should relate to the next game he will play in the Munster championship.

"All we are asking is for natural justice and that will be best served by banning the player for the first game in next year's provincial championship campaign."

Strengthening the Waterford case is Tipperary's refusal to play Cork in the All-Ireland qualifiers at Pairc Uí Chaoimh, a game that has now gone to Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney.

Waterford secretary Seamas Grant claimed while Tipp will have to play the Leesiders in Cork when next they meet in the Munster championship, Tipp were insistent the All-Ireland qualifier was a separate competition and could not be tied to the 'home and away'' championship agreement between the counties.

Waterford's case will be submitted today; Déise fans will be keeping fingers tightly crossed.

The Cork/Tipperary All-Ireland hurling qualifier competition in Killarney tomorrow week is now all-ticket. The decision was taken by Croke Park authorities yesterday, based on the early demand for tickets. In response, the Cork County Board announced that there will be a public sale of tickets - but only for the terrace - on a date next week to be decided on.

Board PRO John Motherway, who emphasised that no postal applications can be entertained, explained that because of their limited availability, all of the county's allocation of stand tickets will be distributed through the clubs and the divisional boards.

"The number of stand seats available in Fitzgerald Stadium [around 8,000] represents only 30% of the amount available in Thurles last Sunday for the Munster final,'' Mr Motherway added.