Nenagh accept expulsion decision

The outcome of this year’s All-Ireland Vocational SAHC still remains in doubt, despite Nenagh Vocational School confirming last night they will not appeal any further against the GAA’s decision to throw them out of the championship after being found guilty of the charge of “misconduct which is considered to have discredited the Association”.

Nenagh VS principal Michael McNulty revealed the school has accepted disqualification from the competition, which is the punishment originally imposed by post-primary schools officials and backed by the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee (CHC).

The school were found guilty of the charge following the abandonment of the March 24 All-Ireland semi-final when Shane Cleere of St Fergal’s (Rathdowney) was removed from the pitch by ambulance with what was later confirmed as kidney damage.

Cleere spent two nights in hospital and GAA post-primary schools officials launched an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the match.

Nenagh chose not to accept the proposed penalty (disqualification) and instead requested a CHC hearing. It is understood Nenagh were asked to provide the name of the player who allegedly struck Cleere, but refused to do so.

Amid speculation that Nenagh were to be expelled from the competition, the matter was referred to the CHC and Nenagh’s fate was officially confirmed at a meeting on Monday evening.

Having failed at this juncture, Nenagh could have appealed further to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) and then the independent Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA), but have decided to accept their fate.

Nenagh VS claimed at the time that “mob rule” had forced Carroll into calling a halt to proceedings and manager Stephen O’Meara insisted the Offaly whistler abandoned the match because Rathdowney spectators and officials refused to leave the field.

An investigation into the conduct of St Fergal’s (Rathdowney) is still being undertaken, with the result that no decision has yet been made with how to proceed with the completion of the championship.

St Brigid’s (Loughrea) have already qualified for the final but it is still unclear whether they will be awarded the trophy or whether St Fergal’s (Rathdowney) will face off against them in a decider.