The GAA will investigate the unruly scenes in Limerick last Saturday during the All-Ireland football semi-final replay between Kerry and Mayo. A match featuring a series of unpunished fouls and brawls threatened to descend into chaos at the end of Kerry's extra-time victory when a spectator tried to rush onto the pitch and had to be removed by stewards.
The man, later identified as Mick Barrett from Castlebar, may be facing disciplinary action from the GAA. "Suspensions have been handed down to supporters in the past," according to a Croke Park spokesperson. "Earlier this year there were incidents at the Armagh-Cavan game and also at the All-Ireland club hurling final.
“In 2010 there were also the incidents after the Leinster final so there is precedent for taking action. There are two approaches: if the individual is a member of the GAA they can be suspended from membership of the association and if they are not, a ground suspension can be handed down; obviously that’s harder to enforce but it’s an option.
“Not to do anything would be to justify this behaviour.”
Black cards
The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) will review the matter at its next meeting and it is believed to be unlikely there will be any implications for Kerry before the All-Ireland final against Donegal, as most of the focus on the on-field controversies has been on the number of black cards that could have been handed out by referee Cormac Reilly but weren't.
There is no retrospective sanction for black-card infractions, as the punishment is simply to leave the field for the remainder of the match.
Meanwhile Dublin's former Footballer of the Year Alan Brogan yesterday denied that he was about to retire. This had been widely reported on Sunday evening after the All-Ireland champions' defeat by Donegal. Brogan responded however on Twitter: "Not sure where it came from but I have not retired, my family and team-mates will be the first to know that."
Finally, Tipperary defender Michael Cahill is undergoing intensive treatment in a race to be fit for next Sunday's All-Ireland senior hurling final against Kilkenny.
Former All Star Cahill, 25, is battling to regain a place in the starting line-up after missing the quarter-final victory over Dublin with a knee problem. But his chances of featuring suffered a blow last week when the Thurles Sarsfields clubman reportedly suffered a recurrence of the injury.
Fit again
The 2010 All-Ireland medallist was fit again for the semi-final against Cork but manager Eamon O’Shea opted for the same six backs who avoided the concession of a goal against Dublin and following another impressive display in the comfortable victory over Cork, it is anticipated that O’Shea will name an unchanged team for the final.
Cahill came on as a replacement for Shane McGrath with five minutes remaining and could be used in defence or at midfield next Sunday. Cahill has been working with team physio John Casey since last week and latest indications are he will be fit but the setback may have affected his chances of returning to the starting 15. It is understood Tipperary visited Johnstown House in Meath over the weekend as they wound down preparations ahead of the final. O’Shea will announce his team on Thursday.
