YouTube ‘star’ Maher given eight-week ban

Loughrea full-forward Johnny Maher has been suspended for eight weeks arising out of incidents in the concluding stages of the Galway SHC final against St Thomas.

The incidents involving Maher went viral on YouTube with more than 150,000 people viewing them.

The 29-year old full-forward was not carded during the game on November 18 but has now paid the penalty. The committee also examined footage involving St Thomas’s full-forward Richie Murray but did not issue a suspension and he will be free to play in the All-Ireland semi-final against reigning champions Loughgiel Shamrocks in February.

Murray scored a hat-trick as St Thomas, backboned by the six sons of manager John Burke, claimed their first Galway SHC title by defeating Loughrea by 3-11 to 2-11.

Meanwhile, urgent negotiations are ongoing to nail down a sponsor for Galway’s hurlers and footballers after their county boards this week voted for just one sponsor for the two senior teams from now on.

Galway hurlers have been sponsored for the past 22 years by Supermac’s while the footballers have been without a backer for the past two seasons and carry the Cancer Care West logo as part of a joint fundraising drive.

Supermac’s is the favourite — and Galway County Board chairman Noel Treacy confirmed that discussions with an unnamed sponsor have already taken place.

However, there is a fear among the hurling fraternity that Supermac’s could be lost to them if an agreement can’t be reached with the Galway-based company to take over sponsorship of both sides.