McCartan ban upheld

DOWN DEFENDER Daniel McCartan has been ruled out of the opening two rounds of the Ulster championship following the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) decision yesterday to uphold an eight-week ban for stamping on Armagh’s Aaron Kernan in the Division Two league final.

Having consulted his linesman, referee Gearóid Ó Conamha showed McCartan a straight red card in the last minute of the Croke Park encounter on April 25th.

McCartan was initially suspended by the Central Competitions Control Committee but sought a hearing with the CHC who stated they “did not find the video evidence submitted sufficiently compelling to contradict the contents of the referee’s report”.

McCartan can take his case to the Central Appeals Committee but, as it stands, he is ruled out of the opening provincial tie against Donegal in Ballybofey on May 30th and will still have a day to serve ahead of the Ulster semi-final, should Down beat Donegal, against the winners of Antrim and Tyrone, on June 19th.

Armagh football manager Paddy O’Rourke confirmed yesterday Ronan Clarke will not start the opening Ulster championship match against Derry at Celtic Park on May 16th. Clarke has been struggling with an achilles tendon injury.

“I know enough now to know he’ll not start the game,” said O’Rourke. “The decision will be will he make it into the 24 or not. Ronan will be very aware of that. He hasn’t played enough football. The medics had another look at him yesterday and they are very happy with the way he is going and they have been asked to keep the cast on his foot for another 48 hours.

“It is just a blow-up cast, an air boot, that gives you full protection, but they are very happy things are settling down.

“We are planning without him, if we get him into the 24 (man match-day panel) it will be a bonus.”

Elsewhere, Nemo Rangers GAA club are still refusing to comment on the alleged use of their facilities by the Ireland rugby team earlier this year.

Such an action would have the Cork football standard bearers in breach of GAA rule 5.1.

The Nemo secretary, Alfie Herbert, has understandably refused to make any statement until he receives the Croke Park correspondence in reply to an explanation they sent following initial inquiries by the GAA management committee on April 16th.

However, the club has always stated that Declan Kidney’s rugby squad, due to frozen pitches at Presentation College, Cork, used the indoor Trabeg Sports centre which is attached to Nemo Rangers but has been described by them as a “separate commercial operator”.

Rule 5.1 states: “All property including grounds, clubhouses, halls, dressingrooms and handball alleys owned or controlled by units of the association shall be used only for the purpose of, or in connection with, the playing of games controlled by the Association.”