Chairman defends GAC role

Gaelic Games News: The Games Administration Committee (GAC) acted "to the best of their ability" in investigating the case of Down footballer James McCartan, according to chairman Tony O'Keeffe.

Despite widespread criticism of the body in the wake of McCartan's successful appeal to the Management Committee, O'Keeffe also maintained that the GAC was not guilty of any clear oversight.

"The first thing is that this decision to uphold the appeal was made by the Management Committee," said O'Keeffe. "The GAC contend that we hadn't erred. And we would argue that we'd done everything properly."

The decision to clear McCartan has ended any further GAA action on his alleged assault on Westmeath's Kenny Larkin in a challenge match last May.

Down have since outlined the basis of their appeal, although it remains unclear exactly which part of Rule 152, which refers to investigation procedures, was mis-applied by the GAC.

The GAC will meet tonight, and O'Keeffe will be eager for a full clarification: "We will be seeking clarification as a matter of course. People will be asking questions and we'll have to answer them as best we can.

"We would still feel that we have done our work to the best of our ability. And we had set out to seek justice, whether the player was exonerated or charged. But from a GAC perspective the case has run its course."

Down pointed to the reinvestigation set up by the GAC, and the use of the same three sub-committee members, as one of the grounds for their appeal. O'Keeffe didn't see any apparent breach in that procedure: "The same three members were appointed, but they still came back to the full GAC committee, so everyone on that committee got to hear the case and made the judgment on that basis."

In tandem with the McCartan controversy has come confirmation that GAA president Seán Kelly has finalised plans to split the GAC, and divide its responsibilities between fixtures and discipline. "Before I took over the position of chairman last year Seán Kelly informed me that it was his intention to split the responsibilities of the committee," added O'Keeffe. "So I've been aware of those plans from the beginning, and always accepted them. But for now we'll have to wait and see exactly how that will alleviate the pressures on the body."

Kelly maintains the GAC is clearly overburdened, and a committee will be set up to examine its brief and terms of reference.

One option likely to be examined is the establishment of a totally independent disciplinary body, possibly with legal representation, similar to the Australian Rules model.

The Leinster Council GAC, meanwhile, will tonight hear the case of Meath footballer Joe Sheridan, who is alleged to have verbally abused the match referee after last month's under-21 championship game against Kildare. Meath, however, claim it's a case of mistaken identity, and that Sheridan will avoid a two-month suspension which would rule him out of their championship opener against Wicklow on Sunday week.

WEEKEND FIXTURES

SATURDAY: Leinster MFC quarter final:

Westmeath v Offaly, Mullingar, 3.0, D Fahy (Longford); Kildare v Longford, Newbridge, 3.0, S Carroll (Westmeath); Meath v Laois, Navan, 3.0, P Daly (Westmeath); Wexford v Dublin, Wexford, 4.30, C Costelloe (Offaly); Ladies National Football League: Division Three Final - Wexford v Limerick, Cahir, 3.30. Ulster Junior Camogie championship quarter final: London v Derry, Ruislip, 5.0. Munster Junior Camogie championship semi-finals: Cork v Tipperary, Douglas, 7.0; Limerick v Waterford, Gaelic Grounds, 7.0.

SUNDAY: Leinster SHC: Westmeath v Kildare, Mullingar, 3.30, J Guinan (Kilkenny); Laois v Meath, Portlaoise, 3.30, J Kelly (Wexford). Munster SHC: Cork v Kerry, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 1.45, B Kelly (Westmeath); Clare v Waterford, Thurles, 3.30, G Harrington (Cork). Ulster SHC: Derry v London, Ruislip, 3.0, J Sexton (Limerick). Leinster SFC: Wexford v Louth, Parnell Park, 3.30, M Hughes (Tyrone). Munster SFC: Tipperary v Limerick, Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 4.00, M Deegan (Laois). Ulster SFC: Down v Cavan, Casement Park, 3.30, D Coldrick (Meath). Ladies National Football League: Division Four final - Wicklow v Offaly, Fingallians GAA (Swords), Dublin, 3.30 Division Two final: Kildare v Louth, Fingallians GAA, Dublin, 5.0.