Tipperary won’t appeal McGrath’s four-week ban

TIPPERARY GAA chiefs have opted not to appeal the four-week suspension handed down to midfielder Shane McGrath as his ban expires on the night before the NHL final showdown with Kilkenny on May 3.

McGrath’s ban was proposed by the CCCC after he was cited for “contributing to a melee” during Tipperary’s NHL tie against Galway last Sunday week. Tipp officials felt it would be difficult to get the player off as the CCCC proposed the suspension.

Both McGrath and Galway’s Andy Smith were suspended on video evidence following the touchline flare-up while both county boards were also slapped with separate e5,000 fines

Meanwhile, Tipp manager Liam Sheedy revealed that Eoin Kelly, working towards full fitness following his recent back problems, is still on course to play against Cork in the Munster SHC on May 31. The fitness of Kelly’s older brother Paul is more of a concern after a recent hamstring pull which looks set to rule him out of the NHL final, while Thurles Sarsfields defender Michael Cahill has been called up to Sheedy’s panel.

Meanwhile, Dermot Earley is set to discover if his appeal against an eight-week suspension is successful.

The Kildare midfielder was sent off during a turbulent closing period in his side’s draw with Meath last Sunday that saw team-mate Ronan Sweeney dismissed soon afterwards. The former All Star was reported for head-butting Nigel Crawford by referee Joe McQuillan but contested that charge in front of the Central Hearings Committee last night.

Earley, who has an exemplary disciplinary record, used video evidence to support his argument that he lunged at Crawford with his shoulder and not his head, with footage provided by Meath understood to give credence to his defence. If the suspension is upheld by the CHC, Earley will almost certainly pursue his case with the Central Appeals Committee.

Meanwhile, the death has occurred of Meath’s Kevin McConnell, who was a member of one of the greatest full-back lines in the history of Gaelic football. Along with the cousins, Paddy and Micheal O’Brien, McConnell was in the last line of defence for Meath’s first All-Ireland senior football triumph in 1949 and the trio were still there for the second success in 1954.