Kerry appeal Ó Sé’s four-week ban but O’Gara accepts fate

KERRY will appeal Marc Ó Sé’s proposed four-week suspension arising from his involvement in an incident with Dublin’s Eoghan O’Gara in last Saturday week’s Allianz Division 1 game.

A Kerry County Board official yesterday confirmed defender Ó Sé will seek a hearing. However, O’Gara has decided not to contest his proposed eight-weeks ban from the Central Competitions Controls Committee.

It means he is unavailable for the remainder of the league unless Dublin reach the Division 1 final.

“My understanding is Eoghan has accepted the suspension,” said Dublin chairman Andy Kettle, “purely on the basis that the punishment, the eight-week suspension, applies to striking as it does for an attempt to strike.

“The video evidence could be construed as an attempt to strike.”

Ó Sé’s hearing is likely to take place in Croke Park later this week.

If he is unsuccessful, he will miss Kerry’s next two games, against Galway in Tralee on Sunday and away to Armagh on March 20.

Both Kerry and Dublin can feel aggrieved at the lack on consistency regarding referees using video evidence.

Last month, Tyrone’s Ryan McMenamin escaped punishment for an apparent stamp on Donegal player Paddy McGrath in their Division 2 game.

Referee Pat Fox handed McMenamin a yellow card and it is understood he had been asked to review footage of the incident. However, no ban was handed down.

Westmeath official Fox has not been selected to officiate for a second successive league weekend after last taking charge in the game in Omagh’s Healy Park.

It’s uncertain whether he has not been handed a job for neglecting to change his original yellow card decision.

Meanwhile, Tyrone referee Martin Sludden has also been overlooked for an appointment for the second round in a row after last officiating in the Division 3 game between Westmeath and Cavan on February 20.