Prendergast receives eight-week suspension

GAELIC GAMES:THE GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has once again dealt swiftly and severely with the main disciplinary incidents from last weekend's matches in the National Hurling League.

As expected, Waterford full back Declan Prendergast and Kilkenny forward Eddie Brennan were top of the CCCC’s list following their straight red cards in Sunday’s Division One clash at Walsh Park – with Prendergast getting a proposed eight-week suspension, and Brennan a proposed four-week suspension.

While the Kilkenny County Board have already announced their intention to contest Brennan’s suspension, the Waterford County Board are still awaiting final confirmation of Prendergast’s actual period of suspension.

This is because yesterday the CCCC first sought clarification from Waterford on whether Prendergast had been red-carded in the previous 48 weeks, which would have resulted in the doubling of the proposed suspension.

“We confirmed that there hadn’t been any red card in the previous 48 weeks,” explained Waterford press officer Joe Cleary, “but as of close of business we hadn’t heard back as to what exact penalty is being proposed.”

Television footage of Sunday’s game at Walsh Park had captured Prendergast apparently striking Brennan on the head with his hurley during an off-the-ball incident late in the game. While this video evidence was consulted, Laois referee Anthony Stapleton had also reported Prendergast for a category III offence of “attempting to strike with the hurl, with force” – which carries a minimum eight weeks suspension.

While it is unclear at this stage whether Prendergast will request a hearing in an effort to get that suspension reduced or overturned, and there are some indications that he won’t, Kilkenny have already requested a hearing for Brennan with the Central Hearings Committee (CHC), which will take place tomorrow evening.

Brennan was red-carded only after the referee consulted with his umpire, and although he was reported for a lesser offence and only a four-week suspension, Kilkenny intend to make a case for that suspension to be overturned completely.

There is more urgency in their case as Kilkenny are out again this Sunday in the refixed National League first-round Division One game against Galway at Pearse Stadium. Manager Brian Cody is already without several first-choice players including Henry Shefflin, who is taking time out to recover from a groin strain, and also James “Cha” Fitzpatrick who is still feeling the effects of a recent bout of the mumps.

TJ Reid is also likely to miss out on the Galway game as he concentrates on Fitzgibbon Cup commitments this weekend with Waterford IT, who face UCC in Friday’s semi-final.

Meanwhile, Tyrone defender Ryan McMenamin also goes before another GAA disciplinary committee in Croke Park tomorrow evening. Following last week’s decision of the CHC to increase his proposed suspension from six to eight weeks, arising from an incident with Kerry’s Paul Galvin in last month’s league clash in Omagh, McMenamin will now have his case heard by the Central Appeals Committee (CAC).

There is a lot at stake. Unless he escapes penalty by way of some technicality he will definitely miss Saturday evening’s game against Galway in Omagh, but a four-week suspension, which Tyrone claim is just enough punishment, would at least see him back for the games against Westmeath, Donegal and Derry – and finally Mayo. As things stand, however, he will be sidelined until that last league match against Mayo on April 12th.

Tyrone also intend to appeal the €2,000 fine they received from the CHC for “disruptive conduct by their players” immediately after the league game against Kerry, despite the fact this was a reduction on the €5,000 originally proposed by the CCCC.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has found himself with a lengthening injury list with defender Joe McMahon set to miss the Galway game with a knee injury. Brian Dooher and Stephen O’Neill remain the other notable absentees, while Philip Jordan will also be away on holidays. However, Brian McGuigan is expected to make his first appearance of the season after his most recent lay-off because of an ankle surgery.

The brightest stars in last year’s camogie and women’s football championships were yesterday honoured at a joint presentation of the Vodafone Player of the Year awards for 2008 at Dublin’s Westbury Hotel.

Cork’s All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Aoife Murray picked up the camogie award following another magnificent season in goal while the women’s football award went to Monaghan’s Ciara McAnespie.

For Murray, the award capped a memorable 2008, a year that also saw her pick up her second All Star along with her fourth All-Ireland senior title.

McAnespie, who is studying at DCU on a sports scholarship, has been one of the brightest stars of the game at underage level in recent years, winning two All-Ireland schools titles with St Louis, Monaghan. She burst on to the senior intercounty scene with Monaghan and also won an All-Ireland club intermediate title with her club Emyvale last season.