Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
RYAN HOPING TO GET AWAY WITH SQUIRT
VETERAN Fermanagh defender Ryan Mccluskey is hoping he will be cleared to play against Donegal in the Ulster final, despite being hit with a proposed eight-week ban.
The 37-year-old, who is the longest-serving inter-county player in the country, was sent to the stands in the first half of the Ernemen’s Ulster semi-final win over Monaghan for squirting water at Drew Wylie.
Mccluskey was listed as a player in Fermanagh’s 26-man squad – but was wearing a Maor Uisce bib as he ran onto the field to give water to team-mate Sean Quigley.
Fermanagh are hopeful of getting the ban quashed on a technicality as ref Conor Lane’s report referred to Mccluskey as a team official – when he was actually a player.
“It was in the heat of the moment and I’m not sure if he did (realise I was a player),” admits Mccluskey.
“I actually was listed as a player that day so the county board are currently looking into that issue.
“Obviously it’s not ideal but you have to get on with it. It’s out of my hands.
“We are back training tonight so the full focus will be on getting the head right for two weeks time and try not to worry about that.”
Mccluskey has been on the Fermanagh panel since 1999 trying to win that elusive first Ulster medal and admits missing out on the final would be heart-breaking.
“Yes, it would. There’s not a pile more I can say on that. I just have to wait and see how it plays out.”
Meanwhile Fermanagh boss Rory Gallagher last night cranked up the mind games and says he will keep Donegal guessing about his plans right up until the throw-in at Clones on Sunday week.
“There is no point coming up with a curveball unless it’s good enough,” he smiled.
“There is no point being different for the sake of it. But if there’s something new, we’ll try and come up with that as well.”