Laois set to appeal bans

Laois County Board officials look set to appeal to Central Council against the suspensions of five of their minor players. The executive members met last night to discuss their next move.

Five players, three from the minor panel and two from the development squad, received bans ranging from eight to 12 weeks following the fracas at the end of the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork in Limerick on July 31st.

Three Cork players were also suspended, while their selector Keith Ricken received a 48-week ban. Both counties were fined €5,000.

The case has not been closed but Laois chairman Dick Miller was exonerated of any wrongdoing by the Games Administration Committee. Further individuals may still be disciplined.

The ongoing investigation means neither management is able to completely refocus their panels ahead of next Sunday's rescheduled match in Thurles, on the undercard of the All-Ireland intermediate hurling final between Cork and Kilkenny.

"I was shocked with the suspensions as I thought they were quite severe," said Laois manager Seán Dempsey. "I was expecting some sort of fine but with so many of the players punished it looks like we were more responsible. We didn't start the fight and we didn't keep it going. I think we will appeal."

With Laois midfielder Brendan Quigley and goalkeeper Eoin Culliton now out of action because of the GAC ruling, Shane O'Neill may come in at centrefield while Colm Munnelly - brother of Ross - should take over in goal.

Meanwhile, despite recent signs of positive future relations between the GAA and the Gaelic Players Association, a recent directive from the GAA commercial department to exclude Club Energise, as an unsuitable advertiser, from all official GAA stadia has provoked an angry reaction from GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell.

"It is bewildering that the GAA's commercial department should choose to blatantly discriminate against a 100-per-cent Irish product that directly promotes Gaelic games, rewards our players, sponsors the Antrim county minor team and finances a scholarship scheme for the stars of tomorrow.

"Having physically confiscated Club Energise from players as they left the changing room prior to the All-Ireland club final, this latest development clearly indicates the existence of an anti-player policy within Croke Park.

"This disgraceful policy is further evidence of the widening gulf between players and administrators, and the onus is now on the GAA to qualify its very questionable actions. A root-and-branch analysis of the GAA's commercial activities and motivations would be very timely at this juncture.

"Against this backdrop of discrimination by the GAA, I would encourage all GAA people to continue to support Club Energise, the players' choice, and remind them that money from every bottle sold is invested directly into Gaelic games."