Cork and Clare hearings start today

Both Cork and Clare will this evening begin the defence of the eight hurlers facing a one-month suspension arising from the pre-match scuffles in Thurles last Sunday week - the first but probably not the last stage of their efforts to get them cleared.

The GAA's Central Hearings Committee (CHC) have called in to Croke Park the eight hurlers involved - Donal Óg Cusack, Seán Óg Ó hAilpín, Diarmuid O'Sullivan and John Gardiner from Cork and Colin Lynch, Alan Markham, Barry Nugent and Andrew Quinn from Clare - although it's still unclear whether all eight will attend this evening's meeting, as is their right.

The one-month suspension proposed last week by the Competitions Control Committee (CCC) would, if applied, rule the Cork players out of their Munster hurling semi-final against Waterford on Sunday week and the Clare players out of their first All-Ireland qualifier on June 30th, as the suspensions also carry an automatic one-match ban.

The Cork and Clare County Boards also face €5,000 fines for their role in the incidents which provided an ugly prelude to the Munster hurling championship.

Given the greater urgency surrounding the Cork players it was no surprise all four would be making themselves available: "Our understanding is that all four players will be attending," said Cork press officer Bob Ryan. "The county board will also be appealing the fine."

Cork have already held several meetings to prepare their case, appointing a six-man committee to deal with what the CCC are proposing: "That's something we'd normally do," added Ryan, "and it's not a special sub-committee as such."

One of the Cork players, who didn't wish to be named, stated their strong intention to appeal the suspensions, although he wasn't particularly hopeful of a positive outcome. Both counties are more hopeful the fines would be averted, as they are adamant match-day protocol was followed.

The Clare County Board intend to travel to Croke Park this evening: "We'll definitely be represented," confirmed county chairman Michael McDonagh. "But some of the players may not be able to attend, because they are caught up in other business . . . these are only proposed suspensions and all the players have the right to appeal. We do know at this stage the county board will be appealing the fine."

Clare are expected to present a particularly vigorous defence on behalf of Barry Nugent, who they believe is a victim of mistaken identity, and hopeful the charge against Andrew Quinn will also be dropped. The decision of the CHC will most likely be made on the night but not released until lunchtime tomorrow.

Their appeals present the first true test of the GAA's new disciplinary process, which, though effective since the start of the year, only now comes across its first high-profile case, particularly as Cork and Clare are determined to let it run its full course.

The 10-person CHC is chaired by Armagh's John O'Reilly with Teresa Rahill (secretary), Pat O'Neill, Gerry Mahon, Bob Honohan, John Heaphey, Pat Dunny, Bernie O'Connor, Paddy Joe Ryan and Joe O'Boyle.

The new disciplinary process was aimed at speeding up investigations and reducing the various appeal processes and "technicalities" but that remains to be seen as both Cork and Clare can still turn to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC), and the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).

It was also confirmed yesterday the GAA's Competitions Control Committee won't be meeting again until next Tuesday, which will prolong the concerns in Meath that Graham Geraghty could yet face some sanction for incidents with Dublin defender David Henry during last Sunday's drawn Leinster football championship quarter-final.

This week's scheduled CCC meeting was cancelled because chairman Jimmy Dunne was out of the country, although it's still not too late for Geraghty to be called in to answer charges of misconduct.

However, it is increasingly unlikely any potential sanction will be enforced ahead of the replay on Sunday week.

RTÉ to show Dublin v Meath live

RTÉ have confirmed their plans for unprecedented live championship coverage by providing live broadcasts of two games simultaneously, reports Ian O'Riordan.

The Dublin-Meath football quarter-final replay, which goes ahead on Sunday week, will be shown live on RTÉ 1, the same time as the two usual live championship slots on RTÉ 2.

RTÉ were already contracted to show the Ulster football semi-final between Tyrone and Donegal, which has 2.15pm start, followed by the Munster hurling semi-final between Waterford and Cork, at 4pm, both scheduled for RTÉ 2.

But Dublin-Meath armchair fans will still get to see their game live on RTÉ 1. The Leinster Council made a slight change to their schedule to facilitate the live TV coverage, and the Dublin-Meath game will now start at 4.15pm, and the curtain-raiser of Louth against Wicklow at 2.20pm.