Regan out of final after 12 week ban

Colin Regan has been suspended for 12 weeks. The suspension will run from the date of the GAA's Games Administration Committee meeting on Wednesday night. As a result he will miss the county's Connacht final meeting with Galway on July 30th and all club matches for the next three months.

The Leitrim wing back was called before the GAC this week to answer charges arising from video evidence of an incident in the Leitrim-Roscommon championship match on July 2nd. Regan had been seen on television striking Roscommon player Francie Grehan although the match referee and his officials did not see the incident.

Given that the matter received a great deal of media coverage, Regan's suspension was inevitable. His teammate Aidan Rooney, who was sent off at the end of the Roscommon match, received a four-week suspension which will run from the date of the match and consequently leaves him free for what will be only the county's second Connacht final in 33 years.

"I'm absolutely devastated that I'm going to miss such a big match," said Regan. "but I knew that would happen. Possibly I was hoping for two months but I accept the decision. I'm not trying to defend what I did." In the aftermath of the match, the player was critical of the media's failure to examine the incident any more closely. "Well, the TV coverage made no effort to put it in context. There was just the blow shown over and over." But in order to condemn an incident like this, does the media need to investigate cause and effect? "You tell me. Most media coverage if it was in another area of interest would want to look at something from a few different angles."

The reaction to the incident of officials within the county was one of surprise. Regan is regarded as a fair player who has not been sent off in his career to date. As he says: "I've spent 10 to 12 years building up the reputation I have and it's difficult to have people judging me on the basis of one stupid act."

In general terms his experience has convinced him that of the need for one reform. "The one thing which might help is if referees were to get more help from their officials." Meanwhile, refereeing appointments have been made for upcoming championship matches. Dickie Murphy of Wexford will take charge of the Galway-Tipperary All-Ireland quarter-final match at Croke Park on 23rd July. Waterford's Micheal Wadding will referee the other quarter-final between Offaly and Derry.

A week later, Brian Crowe of Cavan has been appointed to officiate at the Connacht final between Galway and Leitrim whereas Tipperary's Paddy Russell will take charge of the Leinster final between Dublin and whoever emerges from Sunday's Offaly-Kildare replay.

The Leinster under-21 hurling final between Kilkenny and Offaly at O'Moore Park this Sunday afternoon will be shown in full on TG4 at 11.10 that night.

Tickets for the Offaly-Kildare replay at Croke Park will be on sale at the ticket office behind the New Stand from 11.30 in the morning until 5.30 tomorrow. Cash payment only will be accepted.

The Leinster women's SFC semi-finals feature one change of venue. Meath's match with Laois will now go ahead in Dunsany at 4.00. Dublin's clash with Wexford goes ahead at Hollymount.

Meanwhile the Limerick County Board is presented with a major problem for Wednesday, July 26th. They have been asked to play a Munster hurling final and an All-Ireland hurling quarter-final at different venues 100 miles apart on the same day.

Munster council had arranged months ago for the under-21 hurling final, in which Limerick meet Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh and now the GAC has pencilled in the AllIreland minor hurling quarter-final between Limerick and Galway at Ennis on the same evening.

According to Limerick County Board secretary, Jimmy Hartigan: "This is a difficult one for us, more especially in that goalkeeper Tim Houlihan will be required by both teams. Hopefully with the co-operation of all concerned, we will be able to sort it out, but time is drawing very close".

The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, will be guest-of-honour at the Munster senior football final between Kerry and Clare at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.