Cork, Laois players and mentors set to face the GAC

A NUMBER of players and mentors from Laois and Cork will appear before the Games Administration Committee as part of their investigation into the brawl in the minor qualifier.

The committee met representatives from both county boards in the Regency Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday morning and have demanded more detailed discussions for Friday night’s meeting.

Progress was made at the weekend meeting, largely based on the co-operation received from the two counties. The GAC viewed video footage of the incidents, supplied by both Chorus and TG4, and this shows clearly what ensued over a period of approximately a minute.

The footage also highlighted how the Cork doctor, Dan Crowley, received his head wound. Contrary to the initial impression that he had been hit in the brawl, it showed that his injury was the consequence of a Cork player being pushed against him.

Cork secretary Frank Murphy, who is a member of the GAC, is not involved in the probe. He represented the county board at the hearing.The GAC also discussed the controversial incident in the Kilkenny/Clare hurling replay last Saturday week in which Henry Shefflin suffered an eye injury.

The report of referee Pat Horan from Offaly was considered and a decision taken to seek clarification on aspects of it.

The GAC will hold their next meeting on Friday and are expected to complete the investigation into the Cork/Laois incidents and issue their findings over the weekend.

Both county boards will be fined and possibly thrown out of the competition.

Alternatively, the GAC could impose heavy fines on the counties and allow a replay to go ahead the following week - in time for the winners to meet Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final on August 29.