Donegal could be punished for breaching match regulations

BREACH: Donegal are expected to be punished for a breach of match regulations before Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Donegal are expected to be punished for a breach of match regulations before Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC final.

Croke Park officials received a number of complaints about their on-field behaviour prior to the game.

Donegal were slow to line up for the greeting with President Michael D Higgins and then delayed the parade before breaking from it early.

After introducing President Higgins to the 15 starting players, captain Patrick McBrearty, a substitute on the day, led them in the parade meaning they had 16 in the ceremony. The parade was late starting as Donegal retreated towards the middle of the field for a warm-up.

According to 1.7 of the GAA’s match regulations, “The team captain shall lead the parade and only the 15 players commencing the game as per official team list may march in the parade, in team jerseys and numerical order.” 

As they had for the All-Ireland semi-final against Meath and the 2012 and ’14 All-Ireland finals, Donegal moved away from the Artane Band. Kerry manager Jack O’Connor revealed they had spoken about his players completing the parade.

“I'll tell you the truth now. We had enough no play to mind our own business, besides worrying about what Donegal were doing but we spoke about it on Thursday night, that regardless of what happened, we were going to finish the parade. That's what we did. I know Donegal broke a bit early, but sure that's their business. We can only deal with our side of it.” 

Elsewhere, Sligo are set to appoint former stars Eamonn O’Hara and Dessie Sloyan as co-managers of the senior footballers. The pair previously worked together with the U20s.

O’Hara is currently in charge of Boyle in Roscommon having guided Mohill to back-to-back Leitrim SFC titles while Sloyan has been a selector in Longford and Clare.