MCGEENEY BAN SHOCK
Armagh boss his with massive 12-week ban
ARMAGH have been rocked by the news that manager Kieran Mcgeeney has been slapped with a 12-week ban. Mcgeeney (left) was hit with the suspension, apparently as a result of an altercation with linesman Joe Mcquillan during Armagh’s League win over Antrim last month. Having already presented his case to the Central Hearings Committee only to see the ban enforced, it looks as though the 2002 All-ireland winning captain will sit out most if not all of the team’s Championship campaign which starts against Down on June 4.
KIERAN MCGEENEY has become the latest high profile inter-county boss to find himself in the dock after apparently being handed a 12-week ban.
It comes as a result of an alleged incident during Armagh’s Division Three Allianz League win over Antrim on March 25, after which the Orchard boss was reported for an altercation with linesman Joe Mcquillan. However, Armagh county board officials refused to confirm or deny the reports yesterday, with chairman Paul Mcardle saying the board “will not be saying anything at this stage”. It is believed that Mcgeeney was subsequently proposed for the suspension by the Central Competitions Control Committee under the Category III offence of “threatening or abusive language”. The matter has apparently already been taken to the Central Hearings Committee where Mcgeeney pleaded his case only to see the ban imposed, meaning that he could be banished to the stands for Armagh’s entire Championship campaign, depending on how far they progress. Armagh open their Ulster Championship bid against Down in Newry on June 4 and with the suspension not due to elapse until some time in July, they would most likely have to progress to an Ulster final or go deep into the qualifiers to allow Mcgeeney to walk the sideline again this year. The ban was officially imposed following the hearing rather than the date of the game itself. He still has the option of taking the matter to the Central Appeals Committee and the DRA but the success rate for appellants at that level is low and having failed at the CHC it appears as though the ban will stick. It is likely that the GAA’S disciplinary process will come under further fire given that Mcgeeney’s ban is four weeks longer than that of Wexford senior hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald, who physically clashed with two Tipperary players recently. The Armagh-antrim game in question has been the source of much controversy, with three red cards issued as Armagh’s Stephen Sheridan walked along with Antrim pair Conor Murray and Stephen Beatty. Yesterday, it emerged that the Antrim players are furious with their county board following the suspension of another of their players arising from an incident in that game, reported to be forward Matthew Fitzpatrick (inset). Having been hit with a onematch ban as a result of an off the ball incident reviewed by the CCCC, he is set to miss out on the Ulster Championship opener against Donegal on May 21. Fitzpatrick had the suspension lifted initially by the CHC but then reimposed, according to the players, after the county board confirmed in writing to the disciplinary body that he was the player in question. The board had apparently previously identified him verbally. A statement signed by all 34 members of the Antrim senior panel said: “It was only after the county board identified this player a second time that a second suspension was issued. “As a result, the player in question could potentially miss the biggest game of the year against Donegal in the Ulster Championship.” The statement confirmed that the ban will be challenged further and added: “We find it unacceptable that not only was this player suspended as a result of information provided by our own county board but that there was no county representative available to accompany him for his appeal. “We do not believe this course of action would occur in any other county. “Unfortunately, as a team, we cannot stand by and allow this mistreatment of our teammate.”