Clare hoping Kennedy’s six months ban will be backdated

CLARE GAA chiefs are hopeful that a six month ban hanging over football manager John Kennedy will be backdated to allow him coach the Banner next season. Kennedy’s unusually stiff suspension from the Kerry County Board is due to go before a Munster Council meeting tonight on appeal.

However, there were hopes last night that the ban would be applied from the date of the game last June.

That would clear Kennedy to return to the Clare sidelines in January.

After Clare were knocked out of the Championship, Kennedy assisted his local Shannon Rangers U-14s during the summer, and got involved in a sideline altercation after the game against Mid-Kerry.

Meanwhile, the GPA has announced details of a deal that will see its intercounty playing members and their families save on their mortgage, home insurance and life assurance bills.

Following closely on the energy drink deal struck some weeks ago, the players body has revealed that independent financial services distributor, Simply Mortgages, is to be their latest partner. The deal is worth in excess of €100,000 to the GPA over the next three years, and offers potential savings of half a million euro to its members and affiliates.

Under the terms of the scheme, those eligible will typically receive a five percent discount on insurance bills, while those taking out a mortgage will receive a €500 cash payment. In addition, some candidates may qualify for a specially negotiated reduced repayment rate, while it is hoped that car insurance and personal loans will be on offer in the future. As part of the deal, Simply Mortgages will become title sponsor of the GPA's Goals of the Month and Year awards and will participate in the group's 'Affinity Scheme' which will be launched shortly.

GPA Chief Executive, Dessie Farrell explained: “We trust that our members will avail of the excellent benefits package available to them through this innovative arrangement.”

Tyrone and Errigal Ciaran defender Cormac McGinley has been given the all-clear following a broken jaw scare.

McGinley was taken to hospital following an incident in last Sunday’s club semi-final which resulted in the dismissal of Ardboe attacker John McConville.

But while his jaw remains intact, he is unlikely to play in this weekend's county final against Killyclogher.

McGinley suffered concussion for the second time in a month, and is expected to miss the game.

His younger brother Enda is definitely out of the game due to a neck injury sustained in the All-Ireland final, while Peter Canavan remains extremely doubtful as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury.

lCORK hurling centre back Ronan Curran received a straight red card during the course of a county SFL quarter-final tie with Nemo Rangers and will be out of action for at least a month.

St. Finbarrs were looking likely winners when leading by three points late in the game but Curran’s dismissal gave Nemo’s Joe Kavanagh the chance from the penalty spot to earn his side a second bite of the cherry.