Cork and Tipperary hit with €5k fines following Páirc Uí Chaoimh melee

Referee Liam Gordon issues a red card to Shane Barrett of Cork and Jason Forde of Tipperary. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Cork and Tipperary have each been hit with €5,000 fines arising from last Saturday week’s melee in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The fracas, which saw Shane Barrett and Jason Forde sent off and Alan Connolly and Willie Connors booked, occurred towards the end of the half.

The fines were recommended by the Central Competitions Control Committee to the counties for “disruptive conduct by players”.

Last year, Armagh and Donegal both received €7,500 fines following the ugly scenes at the end of May’s Ulster SFC final in Clones.

Cork manager Ben O’Connor was disappointed with Liam Gordon’s decision to send off Barrett and Forde. 

“We’re after seeing it on the screen. Two of them are pulling jerseys. We’ve two fellas that are training for the last six months, and that’s the way they’re treated. Two red cards, God help us.” 

Tipperary’s Liam Cahill said the players were unlucky to be singled out. “It is disappointing when you see that developing.

“There were a lot of bodies to be honest with you, I couldn’t really see what instigated it or what happened. I think the two players in question were just misfortunate in a lot of ways to be the two to pay the price.

“Talking to the officials afterwards it was a case of bring control back into the game. I think it will be minimal enough in relation to suspensions.”

Barrett’s two-match suspension has been upheld by the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee (CHC).

Barrett's case was heard by the CHC on Thursday but they endorsed the decision taken by referee Liam Gordon. 

As a result of the finding that the infraction had been proven, Barrett has been suspended for the upcoming games against Kilkenny in UPMC Nowlan Park on Sunday week and Limerick in TUS Gaelic Grounds the following Saturday.

His one-match suspension was doubled as it was a repeat infraction within 48 weeks. Last April, Barrett was dismissed for another Category III offence when he reacted high against David Reidy and missed the following championship game with Tipperary.

The Blarney man was dismissed on both occasions by Gordon. He and the Cork County Board now have the option of taking his case to the Central Appeals Committee.

Meanwhile, both Kildare’s Alex Beirne and Derry captain Conor Glass were also unsuccessful in their attempts to persuade the CHC to quash their one-match bans.

Both men were sent off in separate incidents in last Saturday’s Division 2 game between the counties in Newbridge. 

Glass was sent off for “striking with hand, with minimal force” while Beirne was deemed to have “behaving in any way which is dangerous to an opponent”.

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