MAYO HAND OUT BANS FOR COVID BREACHES
THE Mayo county board has handed out three-month suspensions to three members of their senior football backrooom team for breaching Covid-19 guidelines at the All-Ireland final in December. The GAA’s guidelines allowed for 12 members of James Horan’s management team to attend the game against Dublin at Croke Park, but Croke Park officials queried Mayo GAA about the presence of the unaccredited trio after CCTV footage showed them gaining access covertly. The Government had softened its stance to enable the full extended squads attend both football and hurling All-Ireland finals, though the backroom teams were to remain at 12. In a statement yesterday released by Mayo GAA, the board and senior management claimed to have no knowledge or hand, act or part in the presence of the three suspended members. ‘Following a review process, all unaccredited members of the backroom team admitted their mistake, apologised sincerely for their actions and have been suspended for three months. ‘These individuals attended the game without the knowledge of the county board’s officers and the team manager. ‘Mayo GAA would like to place on record our commitment to the GAA and the Government’s Covid guidelines.’ Meanwhile, Joe Canning’s nephew, Jack, has been drafted into the Galway hurling squad for 2021 with manager Shane O’Neill making seven changes ahead of the new season. Jack Canning scored 2-2 and was man of the match when Galway defeated Cork in the 2017 All-Ireland minor final on a day when his uncle Joe finally won a senior medal. Jack Canning played with the Galway Under 21s in 2018 but then moved to Australia to pursue a rugby career with Northern Suburbs Rugby Club in Sydney, having previously helped Cistercian College Roscrea reach the Leinster Schools Senior Cup final.