Offaly to lose point won in Longford??

Shamrock Shore · February 28, 2007, 01:16:02 PM

From Colm Keys in today's Indo:

"RISING Offaly football star Ken Casey is facing the prospect of a lengthy suspension if it is proved that he was ineligible for last Sunday's league clash with Longford.

The match ended in a draw, with Casey playing an influential role as Offaly picked up their third point of the campaign. But it has transpired that the player should not have been on the field because he had been reported for verbally abusing a referee in a Leinster under-21 first round match on the previous week against Carlow. Meath referee Joey Curley reported the player for the abuse after sending him off on a second yellow card.

Casey was offered a personal hearing last week, or the option to have the charge dealt with straight away.

Under new rules, by opting for the personal hearing, which took place at the Leinster Council Headquarters on Monday night, the player was not technically eligible to play league football on Sunday.

The Leinster Council last night issued their judgement on the verbal abuse case and suspended the player for four weeks, back-dating the ban to February 18.

Now, if Casey is found to be ineligible for the Longford match, he could be facing another even bigger suspension, possibly for six months.

If Longford object to the result and are successful, they will be given both points from the match.

Failure to register an objection could still leave Offaly pointless from their trip to Longford.

The matter will now be placed in the hands of Croke Park for judgement and is being viewed as a strong test case for the new disciplinary procedures."

A turnip for the books......however I would not be confident in our County Chairman getting this properly aired.

Billys Boots · February 28, 2007, 01:23:49 PM

Feck we need every point we can get this year, though it would have been a lot better to win them on the field.

LaurelEye · February 28, 2007, 02:56:16 PM

Quote from: Shamrock ShoreA turnip for the books......however I would not be confident in our County Chairman getting this properly aired.

Shamrock, I'd be very confident of our County Chairman getting it aired and getting himself aired in the process.

We all know how impressive his diplomatic skills are.

Executive meeting on the subject was in progress during the Roscommonside Lunchtime news, but updates were promised for this evening's bulletin (5.30?).

In other news, Masterson and McElvaney both named for the under-21 match versus Offaly on Sunday.

Bogball XV · February 28, 2007, 03:07:16 PM

a bit too late for me, my main bet last weekend was Donegal and ye Longford feckers!! Don't suppose the cold hearted bookies will see reason - the cnuts!

Longfordian · February 28, 2007, 03:17:27 PM

oh ..... !!
We were very lucky to get a point ....it would be nice to pick up the two ...... !
Interesting to see what happens now ...... I presume Longford are going to contest the result ...... and it looks like Offally dont have much of a defence .....

brokencrossbar1 · February 28, 2007, 03:23:22 PM

What are you Longfordian's like cluttering up the board with unnecessary threads?

Keep it to you own thread and stop being like them Mayo ones

Shamrock Shore · February 28, 2007, 03:47:20 PM

Sorry grumpyboots

I thought this merited a seperate thread so as to get the view of AZ and the rest of the Offaly bize who wouldn't dream of opening the main Longford GAA thread.

turk · February 28, 2007, 03:52:27 PM

This is an outrage!!

No it's probably fair enough. If the suspension was in force and the rules were broke then rules are rules. This is either an administrative c**k-up or "aaah we didn't know he was suspended, see you at the DRA etc etc"

Billys Boots · February 28, 2007, 04:05:40 PM

QuoteIf the suspension was in force and the rules were broke then rules are rules.

A pleasant and sporting attitude turk, we'd expect nothing different from the Biffos. Now Tyrone, on the other hand ....

Lone Shark · February 28, 2007, 04:51:19 PM

To be fair, we don't really have a leg to stand on here. I will change this opinion if it emerges that there was any reason to believe that he would be eligible (e.g. a county board official having sought and received clarification from a Croke Park source) but unless that happens, there was a guy up for a hearing which the county board knew about and they played him anyway - how dumb can you get.

Last year I thought Kildare were out of order because their bone of contention was a 71st minute sub who touched the ball once in a three point game - this is a guy who started the match, and a drawn match, although I don't like the way Colm Keyes felt the need to add in the word "influential" - he had a quiet game, and that's just the indo trying to sensationalise things.

In a fair world Longford would get the points and somebody on our board would accept responsibility and apologise. I wouldn't feel the need for heads to roll or anything, just someone to acknowledge that an error was made and efforts will be stepped up to make sure it's not repeated. I expect the former but not the latter.

In addition it leaves us odds on to be in division 4 next year, while our under 21's are losing their main forward for the summer as well. Not a good week.

Also it's a bit harsh on Tyrone, no? Barring Cork with Frank Murphy's legendary antics, I can't imagine any county trying to get away with this.

Bord na Mona man · February 28, 2007, 05:09:30 PM

I suspect Offaly will lose the point here.
Unless they can plead confusion over the new disciplinary procedures.
However I think the tolerance for counties pulling rabbits out of hats has gone within GAA disciplinary circles.
Especially when this has been heralded as a new beginning and they don't want to start off being lenient.

LaurelEye · February 28, 2007, 05:54:59 PM

QuoteExecutive meeting on the subject was in progress during the Roscommonside Lunchtime news, but updates were promised for this evening's bulletin (5.30?)

Objection being lodged.

fearglasmor · February 28, 2007, 06:14:28 PM

Quote from: LaurelEye on February 28, 2007, 05:54:59 PM
QuoteExecutive meeting on the subject was in progress during the Roscommonside Lunchtime news, but updates were promised for this evening's bulletin (5.30?)

Objection being lodged.

Division 4 and Tommy Cooper beckons so !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Feck sake.

Shamrock Shore · February 28, 2007, 06:22:20 PM

Sympathies to all Offaly lads as it looks clear cut. As Billy said I'd prefer to win fair and square and as I said in another thread we were lucky to get a point in the first place.

Losing the point is one thing. In other years if may not have amounted to a hill of beans. But if it means the difference between the AIQs and the cursed Cooper Cup then I dunno. It's a fecking shame.

However, to drawn on BnaM's analogy perhaps a rabbit can be pulled from a cap......any of ye know Frank Murphy's number?

Lone Shark · February 28, 2007, 06:44:22 PM

Quote from: Shamrock Shore on February 28, 2007, 06:22:20 PM
However, to drawn on BnaM's analogy perhaps a rabbit can be pulled from a cap......any of ye know Frank Murphy's number?

Truth be told, I'd really prefer it didn't go down that road. Maybe there might be more facts to this than we now know, but as things stand it's just going to have to be accepted. Trying to contest this with only the current facts would just be undignified.