Five-goal county star Donnelly in Wee bit of trouble after identity mix-up

A LOUTH GAA star could be hit with a lengthy ban from soccer, after lining out in a junior soccer league game under the name of a colleague from the county Gaelic team.

Wee County midfielder Brian Donnelly played for Carlingford FC in a Meath and District League division 4 game against Boyne Valley Rovers from Drogheda on November 23, and remarkably, scored five goals in his side’s 6-5 victory.

The problem is Donnelly’s transfer to Carlingford from MDL premier side Bellurgan took place outside junior soccer’s transfer window and was not sanctioned by the league.

The five-goal hero was named on the match card as Richard Brennan, a team mate of his not only with Louth but also with Cooley Kickhams GFC, and who is registered to play with Carlingford.

His picture was taken by an MDL official and featured on the league’s Facebook page the next day, with the strap line “Richard Brennan receiving his man of the match award”.

A source close to the Carlingford club revealed: “The two lads would be very well known through the Gaelic, and a fair few players on the other team would know them from that, in fact they may have even played against them in GAA club matches.

“They don’t even look alike, Richard Brennan is a red haired chap, Donnelly has really dark hair, and anyway if somebody scores five times in a match, people are going to take notice.”

When division four side Carlingford tried to sign Donnelly from Bellurgan, they were told they could not do so until the transfer window reopened today, December 1.

A circular was sent out to all clubs including Carlingford advising them that Donnelly was ineligible to play until after that date.

Donnelly had no comment to make on the matter when contacted yesterday.

Meath and District League secretary Gerry Gorman confirmed: “Carlingford have been summoned to appear at our weekly meeting next Tuesday night in relation to this matter.”