Appeals body set to meet tonight

Seán Moran

The Central Appeals Committee of the GAA is expected to meet tonight to consider the suspensions imposed on players involved in the fracas before last month's Cork-Clare match in Thurles.

Four-week bans were handed down to four Clare players - Colin Lynch, Alan Markham, Andrew Quinn and Barry Nugent - and three Cork players - Dónal Óg Cusack, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and Seán Óg Ó hAilpín - by Croke Park's Hearings Committee earlier this week.

The county boards were also fined.

Time is now very tight with Cork's Munster hurling semi-final against Waterford taking place back in Thurles this Sunday. Manager Gerald McCarthy has already named his team without the three suspended players but were they to become available the three would be likely starters.

Should the appeals fail it will be open to the counties and players to take their case to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) but such a hearing would have to take place tomorrow if the Cork players were to be cleared in time.

There is a precedent for the DRA holding an interim hearing. Two years ago when Tyrone player Ryan McMenamin tried to have his suspension lifted in time for an All-Ireland qualifier against Monaghan, his application was refused pending a full hearing, at which he was successful.