McHugh among 20 banned by GAC

THE Games Administration Committee of the GAA have started the year in severe form, handing down suspensions of six and 12 months to 20 players - many inter county from eight counties, who have played without valid authorisation in New York and North America.

The list includes Martin McHugh, the 1992 Footballer of the Year, who still plays for his club Kilcar in Donegal and also currently manages Cavan.

McHugh had only resumed training the Cavan team earlier in the week after a four month break from management. His suspension prevents him from participating in any GAA activity.

According to county secretary Gerry Soden, the manager's position will be discussed along with the question of supporting the appeals of the two suspended county players - Fintan Cahill and Bernard Morris.

"There's other counties hit worse, but we'll have to talk about all those things," he said. But he added that the county board "probably will" support the appeals.

The other inter county players suspended were Dara O Cinneide, Dara O Se and Fergal O Se of Kerry, Kieran McGeeney of Armagh, Martin Flanagan of Westmeath, Vincent Mooney of Offaly and a sizeable Donegal contingent: Manus Boyle, John Ban Gallagher, Barry McGowan, Damien Diver, Edward Kelly and James Ruane.

All players in breach of Rule 41 of the GAA's Official Guide - the need for valid authorisation to play in New York or the North American Board area - received six months.

Two players from Monaghan, Raymond Kelly and Aidan McMeel, were suspended for 12 months for breach of Rule 37 - invalidly transferring from one club to another in a different county. Both had been playing in the US over a prolonged period," without regularising their position.

The decisions were taken at Wednesday night's meeting of the GAC after submissions from the county boards in response to a circular from Croke Park requesting details of any players who might be in need of "regularisation" after unauthorised trips to the US.

Whereas the names of several of the players had already been in the public arena following last November's New York senior football final the list of suspensions released yesterday contains twice as many players as had originally been identified.

It is expected that nearly all suspensions will be appealed, but the precise mechanism isn't yet clear. All the relevant county secretaries spoke to The Irish Times yesterday, and only Tommy Barrett in Tipperary indicated that there would be no appeal.

In the case of Brian O'Dwyer and Philip Quinlan of Tipperary, the situation is slightly different. Both are club players with Moneygall and played, separately, in America in June and August under the impression that they were validly cleared. Their club hasn't played them since and, consequently, one has already served his suspension and the other nearly has, so there wouldn't be any great point in lodging an appeal.

One method of appeal is the Mercy Committee, which is constituted and meets at the annual congress. As congress is scheduled for April 11th and 12th, the committee wouldn't be in a position to make any substantial reduction in the suspensions, most of which run out a week later.

As a result, the appeals are more likely to be made to Central Council which is the supreme governing body of the association between congresses" (Rule 80 Official Guide) and which cleared a fourth Kerry player, Sean Geaney, before Christmas on the grounds that his breach (playing with authorisation in the drawn New York final but without it in the replay) was merely "technical".

Paddy Collins the Westmeath, county secretary, said that he expects one of the more severely hit counties to give notice of motion to bring forward the next Central Council meeting scheduled for February 15th to consider the matter, given that a quarter of counties are affected by the suspensions.

At December's Central Council meeting there was sympathy expressed for the other Kerry players who at that stage were the only ones to have come forward with their hands up and who, in the view of some who attended the meeting, might have been pardoned by Central Council there and then had a vote been taken.

Instead it was decided to refer the matter to the following GAC, meeting, last Wednesday, and ask the various county boards to submit the names of any players whom they believed might be in breach of the rules.

The GAC decided that it had no power of discretion in the matter and handed down the prescribed suspensions to all players who admitted to playing without authorisation.

"We always felt that it would go back to Central Council," said Kerry county secretary Tony O'Keeffe. "We would be hopeful of leniency. Absolutely. Our guys owned up so early and they have suffered a bit already." This is a reference to club championships already missed by the suspended players.

Amongst the counties there is growing dissatisfaction with the role being played by the GAA authorities in New York, particularly, and the North American Board area. One county secretary said that he not alone encountered little co operation from the New, York board but was "abused by a high ranking official of the New York county board" for inquiring after details concerning players from his county.

More than one player's case was pleaded along the lines that he had been assured by the American authorities that he would be in order, and, whereas that doesn't remove the obligation from the players, it suggests some responsibility does fall on the officials.

Most county secretaries were opposed to disaffiliating New York from the GAA. Armagh's Patrick Nugent, however, was less sure about the matter. "The New York board are the biggest culprits in this. Nearly two dozen players have been caught up in their incompetence. They will have to, clean up their act or a parting of, the ways has to come.

In another matter before the GAC on Wednesday, a decision was deferred on the fate of Antrim player Brendan Elliot, supposed to have played for the county while under suspension from the North American Board. Further details are needed from the US.

. The venues for next month's All Ireland club semi finals have, been chosen. Hurling - February 16th - Wolfe Tones (Clare) v Cushendall (Antrim), Parnell Park; Camross (Laois) v Athenry (Galway), Thurles. Football - February 23rd - Laune Rangers (Kerry) v Crossmaglen (Armagh), Portlaoise; Eire Og (Carlow) v Knockmore (Mayo), Mullingar.

Meanwhile, Kilfinnan, who brought the All Ireland hurling title to Limerick for the first time in 1897, are to commemorate that event with a special centenary year in which they have many events planned.