Kerry, Donegal and Neil McGee all punished by CCCC

The Central Competitions Controls Committee has decided to punish both the Kerry and Donegal county boards, as well as Neil McGee, following the ugly scenes which marred last Sunday’s league encounter in Tralee.

Both counties have been handed fines of €7,500 after Kerry’s five-point win was overshadowed by numerous melees over the 70 minutes - particularly in a first half where two red cards and two black cards were dished out.

Donegal full back McGee has also been handed a one-match ban for his part in one of those dismissals. McGee appeared to interfere with the fingers of Kerry number 14 Alan Fitzgerald, leading the latter to strike out and ultimately receive his marching orders after only seven minutes.

McGee’s short ban will see him sit out this weekend’s league encounter with second placed Roscommon in Letterkenny.

Earlier this week Donegal manager Rory Gallagher refused to comment on any of the controversial incidents, while corner forward Paddy McBrearty claimed he did not see much of what happened such was the pace of the encounter - telling reporters that "there was quite a bit of physicality, as it was two good teams that really went at it."

While after the game Kerry's man of the match Donnchadh Walsh claimed the rainy conditions, and the respect between both sets of players led to what was a torrid afternoon for referee Eddie Kinsella.

“I don’t know, I suppose maybe they beat us in 2012 and then we beat them in the championship, obviously in the final two years later, so, look, we’ve great respect for each other,” he explained in his post-match interview.

“I think that’s it, we’ve great respect for Donegal; they have great respect for us. It’s just two committed teams going out wanting to win every 50-50 ball and that’s what the crowd came for, that’s what the Donegal support came down for and why the Kerry supporters came and packed out Austin Stack Park today was to see two teams go at it.”