Rebels rocked by extra €2,500 ‘Semplegate’ fine

CORK were responsible for breaching Munster Council guidelines ahead of the controversial provincial semi-final against Clare, the CCC found.

Both county boards were fined €5,000 for the conduct of their players in the pre-match bust-up, but Cork was fined an additional €2,500 for “failure to comply with instructions issued by Comhairle na Mumhan”.

That refers to Cork’s alleged premature departure from their dressing room, which led to a convergence of players in the tunnel.

Cork GAA chiefs met with the three suspended players yesterday to discuss the next course of action. A meeting of the Central Appeals Committee can be convened tonight — once formal notice of appeals from Cork and/or Clare players are received. However, committee chairman Jim Forbes won’t be part of the process, for the obvious reason that he is a former chairman of the Cork County Board.

It’s also possible that two members of the committee — Tom Downes from Clare and Waterford chairman Pat Flynn — will not be involved in the process either because of being seen as “interested parties”.

“We don’t plan until we hear that appeals are lodged, we have to wait,’’ said Mr Forbes. “It will be held as soon as possible, but I won’t be involved,’’ he said.

“Wheels will be put in motion to get members together as soon as possible and that could be tomorrow (Wednesday) night.”

The committee membership is as follows: Chairman — J. Forbes (Cork), J. Greene (Longford), M. Curley (Galway), P. Flynn (Waterford), M. McAviney (Monaghan), M. Spain (Offaly), C. McDermott (Sligo), T. Downes (Clare), H. Gribben (Derry). GAA Director-General Liam Mulvihill is the secretary to the committee.