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Suspension fears hang over Kilmurry player
KILMURRY Ibrickane are sweating over the availability of one of their key players for their All-Ireland semi-final against Portlaoise that takes place in Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds on February 21.
The Clare People has learned that a Kilmurry player has been called to appear before a GAA disciplinary committee in Croke Park following the study of video evidence from their All-Ireland quarter-final win over Tír Chonaill Gaels last Sunday week.
It’s feared that the player, who hasn’t been named by Croke Park or club officials, could face a one-match ban arising out of an incident which occurred in the first-half of Kilmurry’s 1-4 to 0-3 win in Ruislip.
However, officials from the Clare and Munster champions have pledged to fight the case in the hope of playing with a full deck against Portlaoise as they bid to become the first Clare side to reach an All-Ireland club football final.
Meanwhile, as widely expected Kilmurry players will not be available to the county senior team while they’re still involved in the All-Ireland series. Clare manager Micheál McDermott, who doubles as Kilmurry manager (left), revealed that this was the outcome of deliberations at club and county level.
“I sat down with Liam (McHale) and James (Foran) and discussed the Kilmurry players, while the Kilmurry Ibrickane management team of myself Gerard McCarthy and Martin Cahill talked about it on the way home from London,” revealed McDermott.
“As manager of Clare team I feel it would be very unfair on me to ask the Kilmurry Ibrickane players to play for Clare. Number one, it’s very difficult to focus on one big match, which will be the National League on Sunday and then having to refocus on an All-Ireland semi-final two weeks later.
“For the Kilmurry Ibrickane lads, you have to let them focus solely on the All-Ireland Club semi-final against Portlaoise, because it is going to be the biggest day in the club’s history since they played the semi-final in 2004. And, if Kilmurry Ibrickane win on February 21, it will be a fantastic boost for the Clare senior football team for the year ahead,” he added.
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