Cork County Board giving 'due consideration' to Ronan McCarthy's 12-week ban

As well as Ronan McCarthy’s proposed three-month ban, Cork is also facing the loss of home advantage for one of the county’s Division 2 Allianz League games

Cork manager Ronan McCarthy during an Allianz League clash last year. McCarthy faces a three-month ban for breaching training guidelines. Picture: :David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

There was no confirmation at this evening’s Cork County Board meeting that the executive will appeal the 12-week ban handed down to Cork football manager Ronan McCarthy for breaching training guidelines, with delegates told “due consideration” is being given to the suspension imposed by Croke Park.

As well as McCarthy’s proposed three-month ban, Cork is also facing the loss of home advantage for one of the county’s Division 2 Allianz League games.

Both sanctions arise from Cork’s team-building session on Youghal beach early last month, at a time when collective inter-county training was not permitted. A Croke Park committee found McCarthy to have breached Rule 7.2 which deals with discrediting the association.

Cork GAA CEO Kevin O’Donovan informed county board delegates that no decision has yet been made as to whether Cork will fight the two penalties.

“We have received disciplinary notice from the Ard Stiúrthóir, due to the events on Youghal Beach. There are proposed penalties of losing home advantage for one match and a 12-week suspension for the manager. Those two proposed penalties, we are giving due consideration at present as to whether we will seek a hearing or not,” said O’Donovan.

Down have been hit with the same two penalties for their team gathering at Abbey CBS in Newry last month. Down County Board was remaining tight-lipped tonight on whether they will appeal the three-month ban facing manager Paddy Tally.

If the lengthy bans are either accepted or unsuccessfully appealed, McCarthy and Tally’s three-month suspension will commence when collective training resumes.

Meanwhile, Cork County Board delegates will receive their 2021 match passes free of charge following a U-turn by the executive.

It was announced this time last year that the county board pass, which affords delegates free entry into all club games in the county, would come at a cost of €50. The cost-saving measure drew criticism from a small number of delegates and was described as “quite petty”.

A similar move to charge former Cork All-Ireland winners for their passes was rowed back on last summer and now the board has confirmed delegates will not have to fork out for their passes ahead of the 2021 club season.

“The Cork GAA match passes for 2021, we have reviewed and are continuing that review at the present time, but I am happy to confirm that, as has been the case, senior All-Ireland medal holders have a pass; current Cork senior, U20, and U17 team managements will be granted a pass for this year; current Cork senior players, as is the norm, and all board delegates, officers, ex-officers, board president, vice-presidents, and county board staff,” county board chairman Marc Sheehan clarified.

“I am happy to confirm, particularly relevant to delegates, that the pass to allow access to matches under the jurisdiction of the county board will be provided in the not too distant future. And, of course, we are hoping for plenty matches at club level later on in 2021. From our point of view, it is great recognition and appreciation of the work board delegates do.”