Brennan and Maloney facing bans after epic league decider

KILKENNY attacker Eddie Brennan and Tipperary utility player Hugh Maloney are facing suspension by the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee following their investigation of separate incidents in last Sunday’s epic Allianz National Hurling League final in Thurles.

In both cases, the committee is proposing four-week terms which the players can either accept or seek a hearing from the Central Hearings Committee.

Either way, they can continue playing with their clubs. However, Maloney is currently injured – having been being forced off 12 minutes from the end of normal time. He didn’t start the League final but was brought on in the 14th minute after Shane Maher had to be taken off.

The CCCC took action against him over an alleged pull on a Kilkenny forward, while Brennan was cited for a high tackle on a Tipp defender.

Ordinarily, the players would also miss their county’s next game in the League, but this stricture only applies in the ‘same’ year – which is not relevant in this instance since the competition has been concluded.

In the event of Moloney accepting his suspension, which seems certain, he would be eligible – if fit – to play against Cork in the Munster championship on May 31. A four-week term would end at midnight the night before.

Kilkenny won’t be playing in the championship until June (20 or 27, depending on the draw for the semis), so Brennan has no worries about missing any game.

Meantime, Kerry’s injury worries are mounting ahead of their opening Munster SFC tie, in all likelihood at home to Cork in Killarney on June 7.

Tadhg Kennelly is the latest concern, having suffered a hand injury last weekend, though management are still hopeful he will be ready in four weeks’ time for the game against either Cork or Waterford. Kieran Donaghy has a stress fracture to his foot, Tommy Walsh has a hamstring problem, and Kieran Scanlon is recovering from an ankle injury. Paul Galvin is also rehabbing from a groin problem.