Hefty fines and suspensions for hurling clubs

Hefty suspensions and fines amounting to €2,500 were imposed by the Meath Competitions Control Committee arising out of referees' reports from some first round SHC games during May. The suspensions were ratified at last week's monthly Co Committee meeting, the first official meeting at Aras Tailteann, the new administrative home of Meath GAA. The fall-out from the SHC clash at Trim between Killyon and Clann na nGael resulted in some unsavoury scenes. A Killyon player, who collapsed, was brought to Blanchardstown hospital for observation and later discharged. Another game which produced some flashpoints was the SHC encounter between Longwood and Kiltale at Boardsmill. Fines of €750 each were imposed on Clann na nGael and Longwood while Killyon and Kiltale were each handed €500 fines arising out of investigations into the reported incidents. Timmy Ryan (Clann na nGael) had a 48-week suspension imposed while Pat Massey (Killyon) and Aaron Ryan (Clann na nGael) were each banned for 12 weeks. Four-week bans were imposed on Gary Mangan (Clann na nGael) and Joe Connor (KIllyon). Suspensions imposed arising out of the game at Boardsmill included a 16-week ban for Tony Healy (Longwood), eight weeks for Michael Healy (Longwood) and four weeks for Stephen Donoghue (Kiltale). Footballers didn't get away unscathed either with Ciaran Kenny (Simonstown Gaels) suspended for 12 weeks arising out of the SFC game against Blackhall Gaels in April. Rathkenny's Owen Elliott received an eight-week ban arising out of the SFC game against Seneschalstown in April. There was also some problems for the new Meath u-14 manager Darragh O'Byrne who was ratified for that role at last week's Co Committee meeting at Aras Tailteann. O'Byrne was initially suspended for two months arising out of incidents at an under-age game in which his club, St Colmcille's, was involved. Apparently there was an incident with "a young referee" according to a comment by St Colmcille's delegate Pat O'Neill at the meeting. However, a subsequent appeal was successful and the ban was reduced to one month. Wolfe Tones delegate Eoin Heeney questioned the guidelines in relation to availability of county footballers for hurling games and was informed that there was no problem. "I'm not so sure about that, there are too many members of the management committee talking out of both sides of their mouth," suggested the Wolfe Tones clubman. Kilmessan's Peter Gorman also raised a query about the stature of the Puc Fada competition that his club hosted annually as part of the qualifying process for the national competition. "We had to organise one for Meath and Neil Hackett won it," was the response from hurling development chairman Francis Lynch. Clonard were also congratulated by chairman Barney Allen who announced that the club had eventually purchased some property to develop facilities. Clonard delegate Joe Gannon thanked all the members of the Co Committee for their support in the venture. Suspensions imposed: 48 weeks - Timmy Ryan (Clann na nGael); 16 weeks - Tony Healy (Longwood); 12 weeks - Ciaran Kenny (Simonstown Gaels), Aaron Ryan (Clann na nGael), Pat Massey (Killyon). Eight weeks - Casey Dunne (Duleek/Bellewstown), James Rafferty (Syddan), Justin Ennis (Summerhill), Owen Elliott (Rathkenny), Andrew Kieran (Drumree), Dominic McDowell (St Colmcille's), Gary Earls (Longwood). Four weeks - Simons McNevin, Adrian Boland and Alan O'Donoghue (all Clonard), Gary Mangan (Clann na nGael), Joe Connor (Killyon), Stephen Donoghue (Kiltale), Stein Carpenter (Carnaross), Robert Farrelly (Syddan), Martin Barrett (Gaeil Colmcille), Ciaran Malone (Summerhill), Trevor McKeever (Wolfe Tones), David Harford (Kilbride), Paul Loughran (Cortown), Ronan Fitzsimons (Trim), Cathal Flattery (Boardsmill), John Gilsenan (Drumree), Eamonn Boyle (Moylagh), Stephen Lyons (Navan O'Mahonys), Sean Bruton (Summerhill), Conall Shaw (Wolfe Tones), Brian Moran (Clann na nGael), Richard Fox (Rathmolyon), Joe Joyce, James Flaherty, Dylan Carney (all Duleek/Bellewstown), Ken Hyland (Moynalvey), Calvin Ryan (Ballivor), Andrew Brady (Blackhall Gaels), Nicholas Hamill (Skryne), Trevor Dowd (Dunshaughlin). Two weeks - Ross Hannaway (Donaghmore / Ashbourne), Keith Cunningham (Oldcastle), Aaron Maguire (Gaeil Colmcille), Darren Heaney (Duleek/Bellewstown),