Holders Swan thrown out and fined

HOLDERS Carrick Swan were sensationally expelled from the Tipperary South senior hurling championship last night — and fined €3,000.

Swan have also been told that they cannot compete in the county senior hurling championship.

Swan failed to fulfil their scheduled semi-final replay fixture against Mullinahone in Fethard last Sunday night and were thrown out of the competition by divisional board chiefs at a meeting last evening, with the heavy fine also imposed.

In 2010, Swan claimed their 22nd South senior hurling championship crown, and first in ten years, with a stunning finish to oust Killenaule.

But as things stand, the Carrick-on-Suir based outfit will not get the chance to defend the trophy.

Rumours surfaced last weekend that Swan were about to pull out of the fixture against Mullinahone, after the original tie between the sides finished in a draw.

And in an official statement to local radio station Tipp FM, club officials claimed that nine players would have been unavailable for the replay.

Mullinahone have now been handed a walkover and will contest the divisional final against Swan’s local rivals Carrick Davin in Clonmel next Sunday (3pm).

Tipperary county board PRO Ger Ryan confirmed last night: “Carrick Swan were thrown out of the South championship by the South board. They’re also thrown out of the county championship. They are seeking a hearing but we don’t know on what basis.”

Swan PRO Sean McDonnell said last night: “We have an option to accept the judgment or go for a hearing and we have chosen to go to a hearing.”

McDonnell revealed that no official from the Swan club was present at last night’s South board gathering.

And he explained: “We have numerous players unavailable, primarily due to injury, illness and work commitments.

“And we have a number of players on holidays — nine players are unavailable for selection.”

And McDonnell also rejected the suggestion that the South board semi-final and final fixtures were set in stone at the start of the year.

He countered: “They weren’t. If they were set in stone, why would they not have played extra time in our drawn match if the schedule was that tight?

“The South board erred in not playing extra time there. Extra time was pencilled in for both North semi-finals over the weekend.

“We advised the South board immediately after the game ended in a draw that we would have difficulty playing the game on the following Sunday due to injuries and work commitments. But they went ahead and fixed the game.”

McDonnell added that the Swan club had offered to replay the Mullinahone fixture next Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday or on the Bank Holiday Monday.

But he revealed: “We were of the opinion that there was no great need to play the South final in a hurry. It was played on the weekend of August 20 last year.

“The next phase is the hearings committee and depending on how that goes, the club will decide on the next course of action. But we would hope for a sympathetic hearing from the hearings committee.”

The draw for the second round of the county senior hurling championship was made last night and if the decision to expel Swan is upheld, JK Brackens look like they will receive a bye to the next round.

The losers of the Swan/Mullinahone game were drawn to play JK Brackens, with the draw now reading: AN Other v JK Brackens.

It is understood that Swan will appear before the Tipperary county board Hearings Committee on Thursday evening.