CORK FORWARD Donncha O'Connor goes before the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) this evening to contest the red card and subsequent four-week one-match ban automatically recommended by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).
O'Connor's defence will undoubtedly point to the theatrics of the Kerry defender Aidan O'Mahony, who stalled momentarily before falling to the ground clutching his face, despite television replays clearly showing minimal and open-handed contact from O'Connor in Sunday's drawn All-Ireland semi-final.
A two-time All Star (2006 and 2007) and a member of an Garda Síochána, O'Mahony has been widely criticised for his behaviour.
Speaking at the launch of the Meteor Kilmacud Crokes hurling sevens at Croke Park yesterday, GAA president Nickey Brennan was asked about the issue of players feigning injury to get opponents sent off, and while he declined to single out O'Mahony he was highly critical of such behaviour.
"Last year we had the issue of players goading each other and we brought in a rule to stop that. It hasn't happened since," said Brennan. "I'd like to think it is a phase we are going through.
"I mean it is stupid and it's embarrassing. Quite frankly, it is players not being fair to their colleagues. They might be the opposition team but it is a bit daft and silly. Hopefully the incidents we've had, certain players will cop themselves on.
"If it becomes an issue we may have to put in a rule. I'd like to think that people will have learned from it."
In fact, rule 5.2 of the GAA Official Guide provides for a yellow card to be shown if a player attempts "to achieve an advantage by feigning a foul or injury".
If that rule had been invoked last Sunday, O'Mahony would have received a second yellow card and been sent off.
"For those players involved, and I am not referring to anybody (in particular), sure it has been an embarrassment and hopefully that embarrassment will make other players feel they don't want to make a fool of themselves.
"I'd like to think that would be the end of it."
Considering the stakes and that Cork and Kerry already clashed in the Munster final, it was always going to be a difficult appointment but Cavan referee Joe McQuillan has been replaced for Sunday's replay by Jimmy White of Donegal.
Darragh Ó Sé was also sent off by McQuillan but Kerry's veteran midfielder is expected to accept his four-week one-match suspension as video replays clearly show him striking Cork's Pearse O'Neill.
The loss of Ó Sé means a conundrum for Kerry manager Pat O'Shea. Kieran Donaghy was switched out the field after Ó Sé was dismissed two minutes into the second half but it is unlikely the understanding developed over the past three seasons between Donaghy and Colm Cooper will be disrupted.
Nor does it look feasible to use the other ready-made replacement Tommy Griffin after he did so well at full back on Michael Cussen. Daniel Bohane, David Moran and Micheál Quirke are options in the panel, while Tommy Walsh could be pulled out of the full-forward line.
As for the O'Connor hearing, there is recent precedent for the CHC to overturn a red card: Marc Ó Sé's exoneration after the Munster final. This must be done at CHC level as a glitch in the disciplinary process prevents the CCCC asking referees to consider "downgrading" red cards, though they can "upgrade" a yellow card to allow further sanction.
Because of tonight's hearing and a few injury concerns, Cork manager Conor Counihan has delayed announcing his team at least until tomorrow night, but the loss of O'Connor can be offset by the return to fitness of Graham Canty and Nicholas Murphy.
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