DRA eases post-Connolly ruling fears

Fears expressed for the GAA’s disciplinary system — in the wake of Diarmuid Connolly’s successful appeal against a suspension that allowed him play in Dublin’s All-Ireland semi-final against Mayo this year — have eased significantly in the wake of a landmark case held in Belfast this week.

Parnell’s GAA Club in London had claimed that a referee in charge of one of their London SFC group games had reported the incorrect score and the error had cost the club a place in the semi-finals on the basis of points differentials.

The resultant objection has resulted in the county championship being placed on hold for over a month as their case proceeded through the London CCC and the Provincial Hearings Committee in Britain before being dismissed by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) after a six-hour meeting.