Lohan and Lynch face video trial

The Munster Council has confirmed that video evidence will be on the agenda next week when Sunday's Munster hurling final violence is considered. Two players, Brian Lohan of Clare and Waterford's Michael White, were sent off after three minutes, while a number of other incidents took place - most notably Colin Lynch's striking of Tony Browne which went unpunished. In addition several brawls broke out before the throw-in.

"First of all we'll wait and see what the referee has to say," said Munster Council secretary Donie Nealon. "We have used video evidence in the past to confirm or not confirm - as the case may be - charges brought. I'd say it's five or six years since the Munster Council first used video, during (former chairman) Michael Maher's time. Sometimes it has exonerated players, other times it has incriminated them."

Lynch's fate will depend on how the council evaluates the video evidence and how Barrett reports the incident after which he booked the player and his opposite number Browne - after his linesman brought the matter to his attention as Barrett was dealing with the general melee further down the pitch.

Three years ago, Tipperary players Michael Ryan and Paul Delaney were suspended on video evidence after a brawl during a championship match, also against Waterford.

Last night RTE Radio One's Sportscall programme was inundated with callers, mainly from Waterford, condemning Clare's tactics and reflecting the ill-feeling which now clearly surrounds the match. Clare sources, however, while accepting that Lynch could be in trouble, reject what they see as the selective demonising of their players and maintain that misbehaviour was not all on one side.

There will be a tense wait for Clare and full back Lohan until this day week when the extent of his suspension will be discovered when the Munster Council's Games Administration Committee meets to consider referee Willie Barrett's report on the match.

"The GAC will meet on Tuesday week and all relevant referees' reports will be considered," said Nealon.

The most obvious item in Barrett's report will concern the sendings-off of Lohan and White. The players' fate will depend on what offences are cited in the referee's report.

There was some hope within the Clare camp that Lohan could get as little as two weeks were he to be reported for rough play. The anomaly in this optimistic interpretation is that Lohan hadn't been previously booked and rough play is a cautionable offence rather than one meriting immediate dismissal.

Other possibilities are more alarming. Under Rule 137 A (2), Lohan could receive a month's suspension for dangerous play which would force him out of the All-Ireland semi-final against Offaly or Antrim.

He could even be disciplined under 137 A (3) which deals with striking with the hurley and entails a three-month suspension which would rule him out for the rest of the season, including the All-Ireland final should Clare qualify for it.

Clare county secretary Pat Fitzgerald admitted he was concerned at this prospect. "Of course we all are. But I think it would be a shame. Brian Lohan has never been that sort of player and it would be terrible if he was to miss the All-Ireland series."

White's position is somewhat different in that he automatically misses Sunday's All-Ireland quarter-final against Galway. But if Waterford survive, White will be available unless he gets more than a month.

In advance of next week's meeting, Nealon was reluctant to comment on the general issue of violence in hurling. Asked whether he and the council were now concerned at the levels now current in the game, he replied: "I'd rather not say, I don't want to comment in case I'd be accused of prejudicing the decision."

Nealon also revealed that both Clare and Waterford had been approached about the issue of pitch incursions by team officials from both sides before Sunday's match. He rejected suggestions that the council had ignored the defiance of regulations in the drawn match.

"Four teams and their county boards were all spoken to last week (after the drawn Munster final) about observing the regulations. It's wrong to say nothing was done. The only reason we hadn't a formal meeting was that there was only a week to the replay but we met three county board officers and one other was spoken to on the phone."

Is he concerned that the undertakings being made by team officials are being disregarded and that the official policy of the GAA on the matter is being treated with contempt?

"Yes. They just seem to be ignoring the regulations although I thought Sunday's match was better from that point of view."

Will the continuing disobedience, including the haranguing of match officials during the match, be on the council's agenda next week?

"Absolutely."