Shields unlikely to appeal

There was no comment from the Cork County Board today regarding the recommended suspension to Michael Shields and the fine imposed on the board in the aftermath of last Sunday’s tunnel incident in the NFL final.

Both the Cork and Dublin county boards, it is believed, received fines of €2,000 each with Shields and Dublin player Philip McMahon having a four-week suspension recommended after their half-time clash under the Hogan Stand.

County Board PRO Ger Lane admitted that correspondence had been received by the Board regarding the issue but he was not at liberty to discuss it at this time.

It’s unlikely, however, that they will contest either the suspension to Shields or the fine because the situation regarding the Barrs player means that he will miss no game during the course of the month.

It was a Category Two infraction which incurs a four-week ban inclusive of the next game in the competition of that competition year.

As the competition has been concluded that does not apply now which means that both players will be free to line out in the opening round of the Munster and Leinster championships.

However, if either player received a straight red card during the course of the championship they would then be suspended for eight weeks which would almost definitely mean missing a major game.

That also applies to two other Cork players, Noel O’Leary, who was red-carded against Kerry and Eoin Cadogan, who missed last Sunday’s final after being sent off against Armagh.

Meanwhile, the Cork minor hurlers will have to do things the hard way if they are to reach this year’s Munster final.

After last night’s disappointing loss to Limerick, they will be expected to defeat Kerry on Saturday night at Páirc Uí Chaoimh but they then face a daunting trip to Thurles a week later in a make-or-break game with Tipperary, who lost to Waterford last night.

The extra fixture against Kerry on Saturday has forced a postponement of the Premier championship tie between Blackrock and Castlelyons.