Moorefield to appeal punishment

Gaelic GamesThe Disputes Resolution Authority is on standby, as Leinster champions Moorefield are to appeal their suspensions to Croke Park's Central Appeals Committee and take them to the Disputes Resolution Authority if necessary.

Describing the punishments handed down by Monday night's provincial Hearings Committee as "grossly unfair", club secretary Peter White said they would be challenging the decision to suspend two of the club's players and fix any matches in the current championship for away venues.

"We've made the decision to appeal and we've asked the DRA to put themselves on standby in case we need to go to them. Hopefully this can be done as quickly as possible because I believe the fixture is set for next weekend."

He was also critical of what he saw as "trial by media", saying that the situation would never have developed but for the publicity: "Definitely not. This wouldn't have happened unless the match was on television.

"We feel it was grossly unfair. No one was reported by the referee, no one was injured and at the end of three very sporting games the players shook hands and went off. It was probably inevitable that some sort of flashpoint would occur after three such closely contested games."

Earlier yesterday the Leinster Council had confirmed that the proposals of its Competitions Control Committee had been upheld and that: "Two Moorefield players James Lonergan and Kevin Murnaghan be suspended for four weeks; Moorefield concede home venue to their opponents in their remaining games in the championship.

"This means that next Sunday's Leinster semi-final against Tyrrellspass will be played in Mullingar and, should Moorefield qualify for the final, against St Vincents, the game will be played in Parnell Park."

White confirmed that the club would be appealing all of the punishments levied: "We requested everything to be taken together," he said.

He said the appeal was based on the harshness of the penalties, which arose from the third and final quarter-final match against Longford champions Dromard, played last Sunday week.

Despite being well-behaved over three matches plus two periods of extra-time, the contest boiled over towards the end of the second replay and a melee developed involving most of the players and replacements. When order was restored, Meath referee David Coldrick took no action against any of the players.

But the match was televised and the incidents were seen by a large audience, including Leinster chair Liam O'Neill who said later last week when announcing that the matter would be investigated: "Obviously you can't turn a blind eye to what happened and we're not going to. We all saw the video evidence last Monday night."

The provincial council postponed the Tyrrellspass match from last weekend, as it was anxious that no Moorefield player escape a potential suspension on the basis that the matter couldn't be expedited in time.

According to White, his club has a very good disciplinary record and this was laid before the hearing earlier in the week.

"We told them certain things about Moorefield as a club and our super disciplinary record and how long it's been since we had someone sent off. We haven't denied that the melee happened but the whole thing strikes us as trial by media."

The decision to deprive the Kildare champions of home advantage on Sunday and in the final should they defeat Tyrrellspass is in accordance with the rule stating that "a penalty at the discretion of the committee in charge" can be imposed.

Whereas this is usually a fine it is known that the Leinster Council have tried to move away from levying fines, as they feel that it imposes a burden to raise the money on the same people.

Leinster have also proposed a number of sanctions against Dromard players and their club but these have yet to be considered by the Hearings Committee.