Kelly pressing for far tougher disciplinary measures

TEAMS found guilty of serious misconduct should be penalised points and prevented from playing matches at home for a limited period of time, according to GAA president Sean Kelly.

Mr Kelly was speaking after the CDC handed out fines totalling €20,000 and hit six players with eight-week bans as a result of the Battle of Omagh.

There is no provision in the rule book for stripping teams of points or home advantage, as happens from time to time in soccer, but Kelly believes that such a system should be considered.

"There are two aspects which will have to be considered in the future," said Kelly yesterday. "One is not allowing teams to play games at home and another would be a points deduction.

"The thing is the rules don't allow for points deduction and the important thing for the CDC is to get their procedures right and not to be taking unnecessary risks which could see the thing thrown out on a technicality.

"The CDC had to look at it in terms of 'a' county board and not the particular county boards involved. Half the counties are finding it very difficult to make ends meet. I would see it as the bottom line rather than the upper limit and we would certainly see the upper limit apply if there was any repeat of what happened in Omagh."

Kelly is satisfied with the suspensions. "If it were to be repeated, obviously a sterner approach would have to be taken. It's stern enough. Eight weeks for six players and four weeks for another. That's a fair suspension, particularly at this time of the year with so many games being played."

Dublin players seem likely to lodge appeals against the suspensions handed down by the Central Disciplinary Committee arising from their investigation of the February 5 NFL game against Tyrone in Omagh. The understanding is county officials are unhappy about two particular suspensions and that if appeals are considered, all four from Bryan Cullen, Ciaran Whelan, Kevin Bonner and Alan Brogan will be submitted. The situation regarding the three Tyrone players (Michael McGee, Owen Mulligan and Kevin Hughes) is not so clear, but the belief is that their suspensions will also be appealed. Additionally, the two County Boards are expected to challenge the €10,000 fines.

In the meantime, Magee, Mulligan and Hughes are ineligible to play in Sunday's Dr McKenna Cup final against Monaghan, along with Collie Holmes, who received a four weeks term at the CDC's first meeting.

Cullen, charged under Rule 138, is free to play with DCU in the Sigerson Cup, will miss Dublin's games against Offaly and Cork. His suspension will end at midnight on March 4, but that night the game against Offaly will be played under lights in Parnell Park.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear as to whether or not Graham Geraghty has a future with the Meath team. The Seneschalstown forward had a row with manager Eamonn Barry after a one-point defeat by Antrim in a challenge game in Ratoath last Saturday. According to some sources, he simply walked out after the disagreement which took place in front of the full panel. Other rumours claim that he has quit the panel entirely.

Geraghty was unavailable for comment yesterday.