Behind Ger Brennan's fight to beat Galway rap

Much water has passed under the bridge since Ger Brennan and Cian Breathnach-McGinn last tangoed. Forgive the Dublin boss if the reacquaintance isn’t cause for a smile. Even a wry one.

SEEING RED: Referee Fergal Kelly shows a red card to Ger Brennan and to Cian Breathnach-McGinn. Pic: Sportsfile

IT’S safe to say Cian Breathnach-McGinn will be listed as a part of the official Galway backroom team in Croke Park on Sunday.

It was the strength and conditioning coach’s absence from the sheet for March’s game against Dublin in March on which Ger Brennan based much of his appeal against a 12-week and two league game ban. 

Brennan’s solicitor Conor Sally claimed the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) had erred in issuing the suspension to Brennan as Breathnach-McGinn was where he was not supposed to be as his name wasn’t down on the list. Therefore, he did not satisfy the breach of the rule 7.2 (c) — “physical interference with a team official”.

In documentation seen by the Irish Examiner, Brennan argued: “It is clear that I did not commit the infraction. The person it was alleged I physically interfered with, whilst defending my player, who was being attacked, was a ‘pitch invader’ and not a team official.

“Despite this being abundantly clear to the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) and CHC, they have both sought to punish me whilst the pitch invader receives no sanction for entering the field of play without permission and in contravention of public order to include aggravated trespass (criminal law breaches).

“A person who has clearly breached the match day regulations and more importantly broken the criminal law by his actions is being put forward as the victim in an alleged infraction.”

Brennan had also highlighted that the CCCC (and, to that end, the CHC) had not sought clarification from referee Fergal Kelly as they are entitled as per rule to identify Breathnach-McGinn but from Galway secretary Michael McMahon who identified him “as the liaison between the team management and the substitutes. He was not on the list and should not have been on the pitch or sideline”.

Brennan stressed the CCCC’s approach to McMahon should not have been permitted. 

“The only clarification the CHC are entitled to consider is the referee as per rule, not any GAA official and in particular not one that is conflicted when it comes to a particular case.”

He continued: “The CCCC had no idea when receiving the referee’s report who I was in an altercation with.” 

Breathnach-McGinn, for his part in that half-time flashpoint, was issued with an eight-week suspension for disruptive behaviour. While he was not among the Galway backroom officials on the sheet, the CCCC are empowered by the Official Guide’s Rule 7.4 to determine who is a team official.

Asked by Dublin to provide further information, Kelly said he chose to red card Brennan having seen his altercation with Breathnach-McGinn. He said one of his linesmen and umpires had agreed with his decision having seen the incident.

The Longford official also sent off Breathnach-McGinn deducing he was in their official party as he “was witnessed” going to and coming from the Galway dressing room at half-time and “was similarly dressed to other Galway officials in Galway branded gear”.

In front of the CHC, Dublin secretary Finbarr O’Mahony insisted the CCCC were not relying solely on the referee’s report as they had contacted Galway as well for video evidence.

At the same meeting, Dublin footballer Brian Howard explained how Breathnach-McGinn sought him out “because he passed other Dublin players” to make contact with him. Howard said Breathnach-McGinn pushed him but he did not retaliate.

Narrating video evidence, Brennan said he noticed a person in Galway gear approaching his players at half-time and was concerned for the safety of them. He said he had never seen Breathnach-McGinn in his life and that there was no attempt by stadium officials to protect either set of players.

The Central Appeals Committee determined the CHC were right to include the disciplinary report and take Galway’s correspondence but pointed out their decision to issue Brennan’s 12-week and two-game ban was “a qualified” one “at the start of the hearing”.

On April 18, the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) panel dismissed Brennan’s claim but noted the strength of the argument around McMahon’s contribution. 

“In the circumstances, the Tribunal does not believe any particular weight need be given to the clarification sought from the Galway Secretary,” it ruled.

That DRA panel, led by Gareth Robinson, had been altered after clarification had been sought from Croke Park that “no panel member is currently a member of a Dublin club and/or is not involved with the Dublin county board”. 

Dermot Flanagan was to chair the panel and was to be joined by Richella Carpenter. Robinson and Pat Purcell replaced them while Seán McKenna of Monaghan was retained.

One of the most perceptive contributions in the entire case was made by Dublin about the size of Brennan’s suspension, which in game terms came to four championship games and two league fixtures in 2026.

“The penalty itself is punitive, and the minimum penalty itself does not meet the justice of the alleged infraction and is contrary to natural justice, it is disproportionate, irrational and is a punishment that is manifestly severe and unreasonably oppressive. 

“This is perhaps a consequence of the GAA system bit part changes on an annual basis. However, it must be challenged by any party who suffers from such inconsistency as a result of a failure to maintain a fair penalty system.”

Much water has passed under the bridge since Brennan and Breathnach-McGinn last tangoed. Forgive the Dublin boss if the reacquaintance isn’t cause for a smile. Even a wry one.