Joe Kernan calls on GAA to watch ‘whole video’ of Byrne row

Former Armagh manager Joe Kernan has called on disciplinary chiefs to be balanced and to look at the “whole video” of the controversial challenge match between his county and Dublin.

Dublin’s Davey Byrne suffered a broken nose in a pre-match fracas a fortnight ago and a video of the game has formed part of the Central Competitions Control Committee’s investigation.

Dublin manager Jim Gavin confirmed last week that a DVD of the match existed, though it’s unclear if the incident which led to Byrne being hospitalised with facial injuries was included.

Kernan, who led Armagh to All-Ireland glory in 2002 and whose son Tony is part of the Armagh panel, agreed Byrne’s injuries were “serious” but urged the CCCC to consider “how it started” also.

“Of course it was serious but if they are going to look at it, look at the whole video and see what happened, see how this started,” said Kernan. “It’s very simple.” Asked if he was suggesting that the CCCC hadn’t considered provocation or weren’t in possession of footage of the build up to the incident, Kernan shrugged.

Attention

“I don’t know, but just don’t look back at an incident,” he continued. “These things happen every now and again and there was an injury and now that it has been brought to attention, it is going to be looked at. But I think both counties wanted to put that to bed and sometimes that’s the best thing. Whereas if it comes out in the open, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail was critical of teams entering into “local arrangements” to bury acts of indiscipline that may occur in challenge games. Armagh and Dublin initially planned to shake hands and move on from the incident.

Any suspensions that may now arise could have serious implications for All-Ireland quarter-finalists Dublin going forward in this year’s championship.

“It could be tricky for [Dublin] this year if players are seen to be fighting in a video,” said Kernan. “Unfortunately, it happened and they are going to investigate it and we will have to wait and see what the findings are. They’ll make the decisions based on what they see.”

Kernan was speaking at the launch of the Dynasties exhibition at the GAA Museum where various medals from his and his famous family’s football careers are on display. Other GAA families that have contributed to the collection include the McHughs from Donegal and the Cannings from Galway.

Kernan was disappointment with Armagh’s exit from the championship last weekend at the hands of Galway and suggested his son, Aaron, who surprisingly retired last year, could have contributed greatly.

Sorry

“To me, Aaron was still one of the best half backs in the country,” said Kernan. “We were certainly sorry he didn’t continue playing, he certainly would have been a help last Sunday, someone that could hold the ball, know what to do, move it and support it, like he did in Croke Park the previous year against Meath and Donegal.”

Kernan said it would become clear next year following promotion to Division Two if Armagh were a genuine force again “or are we a team still between Division Two and Division Three standard”.