Suspended Meath quintet will continue the appeal process

THE five Meath players who have had eight week suspensions confirmed by the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee are all to pursue appeals.

The next step will be for them to take their case to the Central Appeals Committee after their appearance before the CHC on Tuesday night proved unsuccessful. And, the speculation is that in the event of them failing to get their suspensions reduced, the players – Brendan Murphy, Nigel Crawford, Shane McAnarney, Seamus Kenny and Niall McKeigue – will seek a judgment from the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).

The only good news for Meath was that they succeeded in getting the €20,000 fine reduced by half, an interesting outcome for the reason that Dublin delayed little time in stating publicly that they would accept their €20,000 fine.

Meanwhile, it was reported yesterday that the four Dublin players who had failed to gain a reduction of similar lengths of suspension from the CHC won’t take any further action.

These players will miss only the opening championship game, against Louth on June 8, whereas the Meath players suspended for eight weeks will be unavailable not just for the May 18 game against Carlow (which will mark the re-opening of Croke Park) but for the quarter-final against Wexford if they advance.

Confirming that the five are to go before the Central Appeals Committee, Meath Chairman Barney Allen pointed out that their case – which they support – will be based on the severity of the suspensions. The view being taken is that they should not have been treated the same as Dublin player Ciaran Whelan who was allegedly involved in the melee and later red-carded for striking. Whelan accepted his proposed penalty of an eight week ban and publicly apologised for his actions.

According to the Meath chairman, their players would be prepared to accept four week suspensions.

On the decision to half the €20,000 fine, he had this to say: “We are thankful we got the reduction, even though it’s still a lot of money. But we would sooner have our players back.’’

Allen refused to comment on a report that the Meath board is to lodge a separate appeal based on the composition of the Central Competitions Control Committee which investigated the brawl in Parnell Park on April 20 and proposed suspensions on eight players from each side (as well as the fines).

The suggestion is that the Committee membership included somebody from Wexford and that there could have been a conflict of interest on the basis that Meath would meet them if they get over their first round game.