Four-week ban for Mullane

AFTER all the furore surrounding the straight red card dismissal of All Star, John Mullane in De La Salle’s drawn Waterford SHC quarter final against Ballygunner, the Déise star has received the minimum four-week suspension.

Nine minutes into the game, Mullane was dismissed following his involvement in an incident with a Ballygunner defender. The speculation was that he could face a lengthy ban for his indiscretion, but Cappoquin referee Pat Casey has reported Mullane under a rule relating to “striking or attempting to strike with minimal force’’.

This carries a minimum four-week ban and that’s the term of suspension the county executive has now imposed on the player. What it all means is that Mullane’s suspension expires at midnight next Saturday which would have made him available for Sunday’s county final against Lismore – had not De La Salle surrendered their title to Ballygunner in the quarter final replay.

Controversy raged during that second meeting between the clubs at Fraher Field when, on the intervention of a Ballygunner official, Mullane was ordered by the referee to leave the playing area and he watched the closing stages of the game from the embankment.

That brought a furious reaction from De La Salle and when it was subsequently confirmed by Croke Park that the player need not in fact have left the playing area his club sought immediate apologies from both Ballygunner and the Waterford County Board.

These were almost instantly forthcoming with Ballygunner expressing “deep regret’’ over the incident and expressing the hope that it would not sour the great relations that have existed between the two clubs over many years.

“We are more than happy that the matter has been put to bed and that John has been dealt with as fairly as he has,” a De La Salle official said. “However the action in having him removed from the field during the replay against Ballygunner was an ignominy and a humiliation that should never have been heaped on him.”

Elsewhere in football, Cork selector Jer O’Sullivan cites the shining example of Brian Dooher as a strong reason why the four over-30s in the Rebels line-up should entertain no thoughts of quitting inter-county action.

Goalkeeper Alan Quirke (32), defenders Anthony Lynch (32) and John Miskella (31), and midfielder Nicholas Murphy (31) were the four senior statesmen in the side beaten in the All-Ireland final by Kerry.

But O’Sullivan stresses that the ace quartet still have a lot to offer at the top level of the game, and, that in this regard, they could take a leaf out of the book of veteran Tyrone ace Dooher.

“The four lads are still playing extremely well, and they made a huge contribution to the team reaching the All-Ireland final,” said O’Sullivan.

“As well, they still seem to have the appetite, and so there is no reason why they can’t continue playing inter-county football for a few more years.

“If any of the four fellas have any doubts about their football future, they have only to look at the case of Brian Dooher. He’s 34 or thereabouts, but he’s still as hungry, as enthusiastic, and as effective and as inspirational a player for Tyrone as he was ever was.” Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, meanwhile, is not expecting any retirements from his squad ahead of the 2010 season.

It’s the clearest indication to date that skipper Dooher is ready to commit to a 15th season in the Red Hand colours.

“Nobody has officially declared to me that they have no desire to continue, and that’s the position as it stands. That’s the case to date,” said Harte.

While the Tyrone boss expects to have all his established players available to him next year, he has confirmed his intention to strengthen the squad with new talent. He plans to hold trials later this month, ahead of the two-month ban on collective training sessions in November and December.