Roscommon look into US ban on trio

Roscommon are urgently investigating the suspension of three of their inter-county footballers. Shane Curran, Nigel Dineen and Niall O'Donoghue, who all played against Sligo in the Connacht championship, currently stand suspended for 12 months from last August, according to the North American Board of the GAA.

Under new management, the last thing the county needs is the loss of first-team players. In the League to date, Roscommon have recorded two draws and a win over Limerick and have yet to play the leading counties in Section D.

According to county secretary Tom Mullaney, the first that was heard of the suspensions was a telephone call from Croke Park yesterday week. A fax last Thursday confirmed that the three players, plus club footballers Niall Finnegan and Damien Garvey, had been suspended for playing in Boston with inadequate authorisation.

"The impression I'm getting," says Mullaney "and I met two of them last week, is that nobody knew anything about it. The Galway club they were playing with in Boston was suspended for playing unauthorised players. Following an investigation, certain players were exonerated.

"Our three had authorisation but I don't what dates were involved and that's something we will be pursuing but they weren't aware they were under suspension and obviously weren't in a position to appeal or defend themselves as they weren't aware of events.

"Initially the Galway club made no submission to the New England Division of the Board and in the case of no resistance, the punishment was handed down to all players who didn't challenge."

The problem for Roscommon will be intensified unless a successful appeal is submitted. Given that the players were oblivious to their suspension, all have been playing since August and so at best, their 12month suspension won't start running until the date of their last match and for a further six months for playing under suspension (Rule 133 b) - to say nothing of possible remedies against teams with whom they played for fielding players under suspension (forfeiture of matches under Rule 135).

This problem of unauthorised playing in the US seems to crop up every year. Only 12 months ago, a battalion of inter-county players were suspended for not having their affairs in order when playing in New York. Suspensions were cut short in recognition of certain ambiguities in the regulations but further transgressions were accepted as being liable to the full rigours of the disciplinary code.

This case is slightly different in that the suspensions appear to have their origin in the suspension of a club, believed to be being punished for serial breach of the rules on registration.

Some of last year's problems were caused by players not realising that they needed separate temporary authorisation for each match they played.

Tom Mullaney says that whereas only individuals can lodge appeals against suspension, the county board will help institute the procedures.

"We have to establish with the players what their exact position is and although it will be up to them to appeal, we will advise them on the best course."