Galway's Michael Donnellan, 1998's Young Footballer of the Year, is facing serious disciplinary action after getting involved in an altercation with a referee in a club match. The news comes as a huge blow to the All-Ireland champions' prospects as they set out next week to defend their title.
The incident happened after Sunday's Galway championship replay between Donnellan's club, Dunmore McHales, and defending champions Corofin.
Corofin won by 1-15 to 0-14 after extra time in a tempestuous match which saw two players sent off - Donnellan's brother Chris and opposing captain Trevor Burke.
After the final whistle, Michael Donnellan clashed with referee Tommy Gavin, a brother of county footballer Fergal, who was escorted from the pitch by Garda Joe Cosgrave.
Galway manager John O'Mahony had spent most of the afternoon at the ground, conducting fitness tests in the early afternoon before his team took on Kildare in a rerun of last September's All-Ireland final. He had something to eat afterwards before returning 15 minutes into the club match.
O'Mahony hurried away as soon as extra-time was over. "It was only when I got to the gate that I heard something had happened, that there was some commotion back on the pitch."
While refusing to comment on an incident which he hadn't seen, O'Mahony nonetheless emphasised his team's record. "As regards discipline, we went through last year's championship without having a player booked. That is our record."
The incident took place in front of a large crowd in Tuam stadium for the double bill.
Representations made to Donnellan to persuade him to apologise to the referee were unavailing. He had been, according to one observer, on the receiving end of "a fair bit of treatment" during the match.
Donnellan was a huge influence on the county's success last year when his lightning pace and skill on the ball were a major feature of Galway's much-admired forward line. Donnellan was also selected an All Star and played for Ireland in the International Rules series against Australia in Croke Park.
If he is found to have struck the referee, Donnellan will face a mandatory 12-month suspension. This will rule him out of Galway's championship campaign and the return tour to Australia this autumn.
There is a lesser offence of minor interference with a match official, but this carries a suspension of six months which would still effectively keep him out of action until next year.
