Mullane rules out court action after GAC suspension

WATERFORD hurler John Mullane has ruled out a High Court challenge to the one match suspension imposed on him by the Games Administration Committee of the GAA.

The decision means that the Allstar corner-forward, who was red carded in the Munster SHC final victory over Cork, will be ineligible to partake in the Guinness All-Ireland SHC semi-final on Sunday week.

In reaching their decision, the GAC rejected the contention of the Waterford County Board that the Munster championship and the All-Ireland series are different competitions.

Board officials argued that the one match ban on Mullane following his red card dismissal against Cork should apply to the first round of the 2005 provincial championship.

Mullane said he was “absolutely gutted” by the announcement.

“Please God”, he said, “the lads will now go out and do the business without me, and I firmly believe that they can.”

He emphatically ruled out any attempts of a High Court injunction similar to that which allowed the suspended Westmeath midfielder Rory O’Connell play in the Leinster SFC final and replay.

“I will definitely not be going that judicial route regardless of what amount of money would be made available to me,” Mullane said.

“The GAA is the GAA and in matters of this kind I do not believe you should go outside the GAA. I will not be going down that road.”

However, he remains confident that he will play a role in an All-Ireland SHC decider, the county’s first in 41 years.

“We beat Cork playing with fourteen men for virtually the entire second-half, and we beat Tipp in the semi-final without Tony Browne,” he said. “There’s great belief and character in this team and there’s no reason why they can’t do it on Sunday week.”

Mullane also thanked the Waterford public whose support since his sending off in the Munster final has been “memorable”.

“I was down in the dumps and the fans stood by me and supported me all the way,” he said.

“That has really helped in what has been a very difficult time for me personally.”

Meanwhile county board chairman Paddy Joe Ryan said that they will abide by Mullane’s wishes regarding a High Court challenge.

“John has now made it crystal clear that he will not be turning to the courts and we will respect that all the way,” Ryan said.