No end in sight for Carnacon and Mayo LGFA row after fresh appeal
THE bad blood between Carnacon and the Mayo LGFA shows no sign of abating with the All-Ireland club champions set to appeal the player suspensions and fines dished out by Connacht Council earlier this week.
Eight players were suspended for four weeks after departing Peter Leahy’s Mayo squad amidst a high-profile walkout in July while the club were fined €500 but it is understood that they formally lodged an appeal of those decisions yesterday.
The suspensions came into effect after last Tuesday’s meeting with Martha Carter, Marie Corbett, Amy Dowling, Doireann Hughes, Sadhbh Larkin, Fiona McHale, Cora Staunton and Saoirse Walsh the octet in question.
Carnacon were due to play Knockmore in the Mayo championship tomorrow evening but that fixture is expected to be postponed until next weekend as this sorry saga continues to rumble on.
Elsewhere, Galway sharpshooter Seán Armstrong has hung up his inter-county boots for a second time after helping the Tribesmen to Connacht SFC success earlier this season.
The 32-year-old walked away from the scene at the end of 2014, citing a lack of appetite for inter-county football, but returned under Kevin Walsh for the start of 2017 and helped earn promotion to Division 1 that season.
The Galway boss won’t be able to call on his services next year, however, with his last appearance in maroon and white coming in their All-Ireland semi-final defeat to eventual champions Dublin.
Exit
Elsewhere in Galway, Tribe chiefs are on the hunt for a new full-time secretary after John Hynes stepped down, citing personal reasons for his exit having been in the paid position since 2012.
His departure coincides with the publication of an internal audit which was conducted on the county board’s finances with Hynes hopeful that the results would be presented to club delegates at next month’s board meeting.
In another Connacht development, Sligo have found their new senior football boss with former star forward Paul Taylor recommended for the post.
Tyrone native Cathal Corey surprisingly stepped down last month after just one season at the helm and former Sligo U-21 boss Taylor looks set to be ratified at next Monday’s county board meeting.
Taylor represented Sligo for 14 seasons while also winning six SFC medals with Eastern Harps and he is expected to have Joe Keane as his coach.
Meanwhile, Waterford’s €7million redevelopment of Walsh Park has been given the all-clear despite an appeal by local residents with competitive games expected to return to the Déise venue by 2020 - the capacity increasing from 11,350 to 16,000. Waterford were forced to play ‘home’ matches in this year’s Munster SHC at the neutral venues of Thurles and Limerick – they will do so again next year – due to the limited size of the facilities.