Club ‘moves on’ as player’s father banned
Ahead of Friday’s SFC final replay against Newcastle West, the club want to move on and away from the controversy which saw Stokes enter the field during last Sunday’s first game in the Gaelic Grounds and become involved in an altercation with James Kelly. Father of Drom-Broadford and Limerick footballer Jason, Mr Stokes received the maximum punishment available for the offence from the county board’s Competitions Control Committee (CCC).
No other bans were recommended as the CCC reviewed the referee’s report and photographs from the game dealing with the incident, which occurred following the sending off of Kelly for a second yellow card.
“The matter has been dealt with as far as we are concerned,” said Drom-Broadford spokesman and former Limerick PRO Denis O’Carroll.
“We have a county final replay to look forward to on Friday and that’s all we’re focused on now.”
Asked if that meant Mr Stokes won’t appeal against his suspension, O’Carroll replied: “I’m not sure what he will do but from a club point of view the matter is now closed shut.
“He has an opportunity to appeal but the club are moving ahead and thinking of the replay.”
According to rule 7.5 GAA Official Guide (gravity of suspensions), “where a minimum suspension is prescribed in relation to an infraction, the council or committee-in-charge shall have due regard for the gravity of Infraction in each case, and, where appropriate, shall impose a longer term of suspension. No suspension shall exceed 96 weeks.”
Mr Stokes has three days in which to appeal from receiving notification of the proposed suspension.
He will not be permitted to attend the final replay should he decide to accept the ban, which would bar him from attending games until late August 2014.
As a means of increasing crowd control, the Mackey Stand will be the only side of the Gaelic Grounds open on Friday.
