Jimmy McGuinness

[Wildweasel74]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

[Armagh18]

Right decision. Would have been hilarious if he was banned but in reality was nothing in it. Brennan will be annoyed!

Genuinely
Why is it the right decision ?
The Rule was clear and he deserved punishment .
There is no mitigation under the rule .

The rule is shite. I'm far from a fan of Donegal or Jimmy but a 12 week ban for what he did would be daft.  Maybe one game max

I agree Armagh18 but I don't think that's the issue here.

The issue is they banned Brennan for 12 weeks for a similiar action. That's the issue.

One rule for one and another for Mc Guinness.

Be interesting to see if any manager lays a finger on a player or medic in the rest of the championship.

Oh 100%. I'd be raging if I was Brennan. Maybe Geezer pulls a few MMA moves on Murphy down the line .

[David McKeown]

From reading the statement it seems the CCCC wanted to intervene but couldn't because Hurson had seen both incidents and took action he deemed appropriate.

That's a rule that needs changing

Well it does but more so for how badly worded it is.  The purpose of the rule is to prevent incidents being re-refereed.  On that basis I can understand the McGuinness decision but I can't understand the original Clifford decision.

Will be interesting to see how many high profile games Hurson gets this year.  Difficult to say he got this wrong but our hands are tied and then continue to allow him to referee other matches.

[gallsman]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

Whether it's a forearm or an elbow is irrelevant.

The fact McGonagle took a dive to exaggerate the impact is also irrelevant.

[marty34]

From reading the statement it seems the CCCC wanted to intervene but couldn't because Hurson had seen both incidents and took action he deemed appropriate.

That's a rule that needs changing

Well it does but more so for how badly worded it is.  The purpose of the rule is to prevent incidents being re-refereed.  On that basis I can understand the McGuinness decision but I can't understand the original Clifford decision.

Will be interesting to see how many high profile games Hurson gets this year.  Difficult to say he got this wrong but our hands are tied and then continue to allow him to referee other matches.

I think the Hurson thing is a total cop out.

I'd say Hurson didn't see the Mc Guinness 'push' as there was plenty happening besides that.


I'd say Hurson just told the managers at the start of the second half to clear the sidelines and he was red carding the Kerry player. That was it I'd say.


Now the CCCC are using that to cop out of the other 2 decisions re: Clifford and Mc Guinness. 

[David McKeown]

From reading the statement it seems the CCCC wanted to intervene but couldn't because Hurson had seen both incidents and took action he deemed appropriate.

That's a rule that needs changing

Well it does but more so for how badly worded it is.  The purpose of the rule is to prevent incidents being re-refereed.  On that basis I can understand the McGuinness decision but I can't understand the original Clifford decision.

Will be interesting to see how many high profile games Hurson gets this year.  Difficult to say he got this wrong but our hands are tied and then continue to allow him to referee other matches.

I think the Hurson thing is a total cop out.

I'd say Hurson didn't see the Mc Guinness 'push' as there was plenty happening besides that.


I'd say Hurson just told the managers at the start of the second half to clear the sidelines and he was red carding the Kerry player. That was it I'd say.


Now the CCCC are using that to cop out of the other 2 decisions re: Clifford and Mc Guinness. 

They could be and I think how he is used for the rest of the summer will show that.

[AustinPowers]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

Whether it's a forearm or an elbow is irrelevant.

The fact McGonagle took a dive to exaggerate the impact is also irrelevant.

All contact with the face,  head  or neck should be an automatic red. The sooner HQ make that a rule , the better.

Players don't  swing a Paidi O'Se haymaker anymore ,  but they know they can get away with throat  grabbing, forceful pushes to the neck  and face. It should  have been brought in years ago

[shawshank]

I am sick of podcasters, rye pundits, kerry pundits and some posters on here saying McGuinness did the same as Brennan, regardless of a rule, its no where near or as bad as what Brennan did, no where.

[Stall the Bailer]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

My understanding there is only the one sanction available under the current rules which is 12 weeks. It is that or nothing under the current rules. Brennan was carded during the game which is also different from the weekend. It is apples and oranges. It appears the CCCC don't want to look at anything not in refs report and it is only them and the refs who know what is in the reports. The difference here is no cards for Jim or David were shown on the day and so case closed. The GAA need to expand sanctions available for non players on the pitch, look at rules for who is allowed inside the pitch and see if a citing process like rugby should be used. All of these are not possible under the current rules.

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/05/26/mcguinness-and-clifford-getting-off-scot-free-is-a-bad-look-for-the-gaas-disciplinary-process/

The decision not to pursue disciplinary action against Jim McGuinness or David Clifford for incidents that occurred during the Kerry-Donegal game in Killarney on Saturday have nothing to do with the evidence of our eyes and the massive audience those incidents reached over the weekend. It's not as if these things didn't happen, all of a sudden. This decision is about the GAA's disciplinary system.

Neither McGuinness nor Clifford were sanctioned on the day by referee Seán Hurson for the offences they committed: McGuinness pushed a Kerry player, Diarmuid O'Connor, while Clifford led with his elbow into the neck area of a Donegal player, Caolan McGonagle.

If a referee fails to take any action, the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has the power to take the matter further. In this case, however, they evidently took the view that any proposed suspension would not survive an appeals process.

All of the match officials were on the pitch during the free-for-all that took place just after the half-time whistle. How much did each of them see? There was so much going on that it is unreasonable to believe they saw everything.

But when Hurson called McGuinness and Jack O'Connor together at the beginning of the second half it could be argued this was his way of dealing with the fracas in real time. Did he deal with it satisfactorily? Clearly not. But the CCCC can only intervene in situations not dealt with by the match officials.

Referee Seán Hurson shows Kerry's Micheál Burns a red card ahead of the second half of last weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 1 fixture in Killarney. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Referee Seán Hurson shows Kerry's Micheál Burns a red card ahead of the second half of last weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 1 fixture in Killarney. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
The Clifford incident is harder to explain away. If it was seen by Hurson or the linesman on that side of the field, David Coldrick, the Kerry forward should have been sent off. Are we being asked to believe that they saw it and came to the conclusion that no further action should be taken? That is not credible. So, if the match officials failed to deal with it, why have the CCCC decided not to intervene? No explanation has been offered.


The make-up of the CCCC changes with each presidency, but this iteration of the committee, and its predecessor, have been notably non-interventionist. That approach has been broadly welcomed in the refereeing community where there is natural resistance to the practice of re-refereeing matches in the cold light of a committee room.

Incidents are missed every weekend. Combing through the footage of every intercounty match for mistakes made by referees is not practical or desirable. But when high-profile incidents are missed in the biggest games and not addressed later, it makes the CCCC look ineffective.

The GAA's disciplinary system is much tidier now than it was, say, 20 years ago. The advent of the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) has successfully blocked the path to civil courts and mercifully few of the DRA's decisions are a hard sell. But in a situation like this, the disciplinary system depends first on the CCCC having the courage to act.

Referee Fergal Kelly shows red cards to Dublin manager Ger Brennan and Galway S&C coach Cian Breathnach McGinn during a NFL game at Pearse Stadium in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Referee Fergal Kelly shows red cards to Dublin manager Ger Brennan and Galway S&C coach Cian Breathnach McGinn during a NFL game at Pearse Stadium in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Comparisons with the Ger Brennan incident will not magically vanish now that a jagged line has been drawn under Killarney. The Dublin manager was given a 12-week suspension for an altercation with a Galway backroom member during a National League game in Salthill. In that case, the critical difference was that Brennan was red carded by referee Fergal Kelly.

Brennan took his case all the way to the DRA, but in their judgment, they gave huge weight to the referee's report. "It has long been held in GAA disciplinary matters that a referee's report is considered to be correct in all factual matters," the ruling said. It also added that the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) had been within their rights to rely on the report "alone".

In Hurson's report from the Kerry-Donegal game there was no mention of the incidents involving McGuinness or Clifford.


Referees who have bad days out in high-profile games are often taken out of the line of fire for a while. It will be interesting to see what games Hurson is appointed to in the coming weeks.

McGuinness and Clifford have escaped censure, but Hurson may not.

[David McKeown]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

My understanding there is only the one sanction available under the current rules which is 12 weeks. It is that or nothing under the current rules. Brennan was carded during the game which is also different from the weekend. It is apples and oranges. It appears the CCCC don't want to look at anything not in refs report and it is only them and the refs who know what is in the reports. The difference here is no cards for Jim or David were shown on the day and so case closed. The GAA need to expand sanctions available for non players on the pitch, look at rules for who is allowed inside the pitch and see if a citing process like rugby should be used. All of these are not possible under the current rules.

To the contrary the statement to me suggests that they did want to look at it but because it was in the refs report they by rule could not consider it any further

[Stall the Bailer]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

My understanding there is only the one sanction available under the current rules which is 12 weeks. It is that or nothing under the current rules. Brennan was carded during the game which is also different from the weekend. It is apples and oranges. It appears the CCCC don't want to look at anything not in refs report and it is only them and the refs who know what is in the reports. The difference here is no cards for Jim or David were shown on the day and so case closed. The GAA need to expand sanctions available for non players on the pitch, look at rules for who is allowed inside the pitch and see if a citing process like rugby should be used. All of these are not possible under the current rules.

To the contrary the statement to me suggests that they did want to look at it but because it was in the refs report they by rule could not consider it any further

I should have said can't instead of don't want to

[David McKeown]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/05/26/mcguinness-and-clifford-getting-off-scot-free-is-a-bad-look-for-the-gaas-disciplinary-process/

The decision not to pursue disciplinary action against Jim McGuinness or David Clifford for incidents that occurred during the Kerry-Donegal game in Killarney on Saturday have nothing to do with the evidence of our eyes and the massive audience those incidents reached over the weekend. It's not as if these things didn't happen, all of a sudden. This decision is about the GAA's disciplinary system.

Neither McGuinness nor Clifford were sanctioned on the day by referee Seán Hurson for the offences they committed: McGuinness pushed a Kerry player, Diarmuid O'Connor, while Clifford led with his elbow into the neck area of a Donegal player, Caolan McGonagle.

If a referee fails to take any action, the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has the power to take the matter further. In this case, however, they evidently took the view that any proposed suspension would not survive an appeals process.

All of the match officials were on the pitch during the free-for-all that took place just after the half-time whistle. How much did each of them see? There was so much going on that it is unreasonable to believe they saw everything.

But when Hurson called McGuinness and Jack O'Connor together at the beginning of the second half it could be argued this was his way of dealing with the fracas in real time. Did he deal with it satisfactorily? Clearly not. But the CCCC can only intervene in situations not dealt with by the match officials.

Referee Seán Hurson shows Kerry's Micheál Burns a red card ahead of the second half of last weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 1 fixture in Killarney. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
Referee Seán Hurson shows Kerry's Micheál Burns a red card ahead of the second half of last weekend's All-Ireland SFC Round 1 fixture in Killarney. Photograph: James Lawlor/Inpho
The Clifford incident is harder to explain away. If it was seen by Hurson or the linesman on that side of the field, David Coldrick, the Kerry forward should have been sent off. Are we being asked to believe that they saw it and came to the conclusion that no further action should be taken? That is not credible. So, if the match officials failed to deal with it, why have the CCCC decided not to intervene? No explanation has been offered.


The make-up of the CCCC changes with each presidency, but this iteration of the committee, and its predecessor, have been notably non-interventionist. That approach has been broadly welcomed in the refereeing community where there is natural resistance to the practice of re-refereeing matches in the cold light of a committee room.

Incidents are missed every weekend. Combing through the footage of every intercounty match for mistakes made by referees is not practical or desirable. But when high-profile incidents are missed in the biggest games and not addressed later, it makes the CCCC look ineffective.

The GAA's disciplinary system is much tidier now than it was, say, 20 years ago. The advent of the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) has successfully blocked the path to civil courts and mercifully few of the DRA's decisions are a hard sell. But in a situation like this, the disciplinary system depends first on the CCCC having the courage to act.

Referee Fergal Kelly shows red cards to Dublin manager Ger Brennan and Galway S&C coach Cian Breathnach McGinn during a NFL game at Pearse Stadium in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Referee Fergal Kelly shows red cards to Dublin manager Ger Brennan and Galway S&C coach Cian Breathnach McGinn during a NFL game at Pearse Stadium in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho
Comparisons with the Ger Brennan incident will not magically vanish now that a jagged line has been drawn under Killarney. The Dublin manager was given a 12-week suspension for an altercation with a Galway backroom member during a National League game in Salthill. In that case, the critical difference was that Brennan was red carded by referee Fergal Kelly.

Brennan took his case all the way to the DRA, but in their judgment, they gave huge weight to the referee's report. "It has long been held in GAA disciplinary matters that a referee's report is considered to be correct in all factual matters," the ruling said. It also added that the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) had been within their rights to rely on the report "alone".

In Hurson's report from the Kerry-Donegal game there was no mention of the incidents involving McGuinness or Clifford.


Referees who have bad days out in high-profile games are often taken out of the line of fire for a while. It will be interesting to see what games Hurson is appointed to in the coming weeks.

McGuinness and Clifford have escaped censure, but Hurson may not.

Its not correct they have been non interventionist, they have been selectively interventionist which is much worse 

[David McKeown]

On hindsight Brennan been shafted here. He def deserved a 3 match ban but 3 months in a reduced county season does not make sense. McGuinness at least a match ban, Burns should get 3 months, but he get a month or a 2 match ban. Clifford looks bad on freeze frame but show it on 5/7 sec, lead up and after, more a forearm than a elbow. Donegal lad has a think about it, then goes down quicker than Trump under fire!

My understanding there is only the one sanction available under the current rules which is 12 weeks. It is that or nothing under the current rules. Brennan was carded during the game which is also different from the weekend. It is apples and oranges. It appears the CCCC don't want to look at anything not in refs report and it is only them and the refs who know what is in the reports. The difference here is no cards for Jim or David were shown on the day and so case closed. The GAA need to expand sanctions available for non players on the pitch, look at rules for who is allowed inside the pitch and see if a citing process like rugby should be used. All of these are not possible under the current rules.

To the contrary the statement to me suggests that they did want to look at it but because it was in the refs report they by rule could not consider it any further

I should have said can't instead of don't want to

The issue is that the rules are such that the CCCC are supposed to intervene when the officials on the day miss something.

[Stall the Bailer]

Have they done this recently, say this season? I know they did in past, but the appeals that followed often overturned much of it.