Tipp to appeal Leahy ban

The Tipperary County Board are expected to launch an appeal against the eight-week ban which hurling selector John Leahy received on Tuesday night.

As things stand, Leahy will not be permitted to patrol the sideline for Tipp's three All-Ireland qualifiers and will also miss the All-Ireland quarter-finals and semi-finals should Babs Keating's side make it that far. His ban expires on August 20.

Leahy was suspended for verbally abusing an umpire during Tipp's Munster semi-final replay with Limerick on June 16.

The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) proposed the ban for the former All-Star, with the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) ratifying it.

Leahy travelled to Cork Park with Keating and Tipperary secretary Tim Floyd to appear before the CHC on Tuesday.

Tipperary, who take on Offaly on Saturday in their first qualifier, can opt to take his case to the Central Appeals Committee and the Disputes Resolution Authority.

Leahy's rap on the knuckles follows similar bans this summer for two football managers, Cork's Billy Morgan and Meath's Colm Coyle, who were both banned for eight weeks for making comments to match officials.