Midleton hurler Sam Quirke hit with 12-week suspension

He lined out for Midleton even though the period of clearance he was given to play with Tipperary San Francisco had not expired. That clearance was set to expire a few hours later.

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024 - 17:08

Eoghan Cormican

Midleton hurler Sam Quirke, the club chairman, and club secretary have been slapped with 12-week suspensions over Quirke's ineligibility for Midleton's Cork hurling championship opener last weekend.

Quirke, who was at midfield for Cork's All-Ireland U20 final win of 2021 and has since played league for the county seniors, lined out at half-back for Midleton's Cork PSHC first round win over Charleville last Saturday.

He lined out for Midleton even though the period of clearance he was given to play with Tipperary San Francisco had not expired. That clearance was set to expire a few hours later.

Other prominent Cork hurlers sat out their club's respective first round game last week because of the same clearance not being lapsed.

The relevant ruling states that "a player who has received a sanction shall not be eligible to play with his Own Club in Ireland (other than in exceptional circumstances to be determined from time to time by the Central Council) for the 60 days after the date of approval of his Sanction in Croke Park but is eligible to play with his Own County".

Despite Quirke's ineligibility, the two points garnered from the win stay with Midleton for the time being.

The club will be appealing the 12-week suspensions to Quirke, the club chairman, and secretary.