Diarmuid Connolly gets off after going through 3 appeals committees even though it was quite clear he committed a red card offence and deserved to get sent off.

The referees job is difficult enough to but when they are completely undermined by the GAA then it becomes an almost impossible job as they basically have no authority in the game.

There should be one appeals committee and players can bring there case to that and if they fail in getting the appeal overturned the suspension should be doubled.

Why the GAA needs the DRA to stop cases going to court when no other sports body in Ireland has such a system.If you sign up to play Gaelic Games you should accept the rules of the association and no body outside of it should have any say on suspensions in the GAA.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 05/09/2015 08:04:32    1782435

Great post and sums up how most people feel about this. It seems all the players from big teams get off or it lokks that way anyhow. Where do we go from here? Basically any red card can be overturned. I appreciate Connolly was being held down and it was easy to lose his head but a punch is a punch. I hope these two great teams play the game in a better spirit today.

JimTheLegend (Donegal) - Posts: 247 - 05/09/2015 09:50:08    1782503

You appreciate O'Connor elbowed a guy and punched Connolly on the deck?

JayP (Dublin) - Posts: 1772 - 05/09/2015 09:52:50    1782505

So you just keep appealing until you get the decision you want. Joke of an organisation at times.

letsgosligo (Sligo) - Posts: 108 - 05/09/2015 09:57:47    1782511

you appreciate that keegan deliberately took Connolly out of the game and had him in a headlock?

superbluedub (Dublin) - Posts: 2847 - 05/09/2015 09:59:42    1782514

The referees have to get together now and take action, they're being continuously undermined by a messy string of appeals committees. I'd love to see them go out and refuse to issue any cards no matter what a player does, fair enough that would be dangerous and I'd hate to see someone get injured but referees have to send out a strong message.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 05/09/2015 10:01:01    1782515

So basically as long as you don't mind a long night's stay you'll get off the hook. Absolute circus!

SaffronDon (Antrim) - Posts: 2589 - 05/09/2015 10:02:51    1782519

The fact of the matter is that he was more sinned against than sinned. How could Connolly receive a ban and O'Connor not for his punch? The whole system needs an overhaul. That much is clear.

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 05/09/2015 10:04:37    1782524

To the 2 Dublin posters above.

2 wrongs don't make a right.

Connolly committed a red card offence and then was given a red card.There was no evidence that shows he didn't deserve to get a red card.

What anyone else did is irrelevant.

To use an analogy.Just because one murderer was not caught by the guards does not mean the justice system should free every murderer in jail right now.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 05/09/2015 10:05:44    1782525

clearly the GAA went about making connolly a scapegoat as the statement from the DRA concludes
and the DRA made up of solicitors, barristers and chaired by the supreme court judge

"The Panel's decision related to lack of fair procedure afforded to Mr. Connolly at an early stage in the GAA's internal disciplinary process which unfairly hindered the preparations for, and presentation of, his defence. Mr Connolly was thus free to play in the replay of the above match on 5 September.

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 05/09/2015 10:11:08    1782532

Can't believe this. The GAA went out of their way to ensure Sean Og, Cusack and The Rock got suspended for the 2007 Munster Semi-Final for a bit of argie bargie with a few Clare players coming out of the tunnel in Thurles in the quarter final. Just because the Cork players stood up to the authorities. Connolly thumps keegan into the head with a closed fist a gets off. Its no wonder there is no law and order in the GAA regarding discipline. Why would anyone want to referee. Its bad enough at intercounty level refereeing.

The_Bull (Cork) - Posts: 248 - 05/09/2015 10:14:42    1782539

Fred West would have got off if the GAA had anything to do with his trial.

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 05/09/2015 10:17:45    1782541

Disgusting decision by the DRA and I have to say I'm disappointed in Dublin for pursuing it. I'm not anti Dublin and I'd say the same if Louth did it.

It was a blatant strike by Connolly - how anyone can argue otherwise is beyond me.
The thrust of the opposite argument seems to be that a Mayo player started it - then surely ban both of them.

I used to be a big advocate of introducing a TMO - but it seems that would only make things worse.
GAA has now become a microcosm of society - the people with the best lawyers and the deepest pockets can do what they want.

This decision stinks the place out.

Cherno_Samba (Louth) - Posts: 632 - 05/09/2015 10:20:13    1782547

hill16no1man
County: Dublin
Posts: 10300

1782532
clearly the GAA went about making connolly a scapegoat as the statement from the DRA concludes
and the DRA made up of solicitors, barristers and chaired by the supreme court judge

"The Panel's decision related to lack of fair procedure afforded to Mr. Connolly at an early stage in the GAA's internal disciplinary process which unfairly hindered the preparations for, and presentation of, his defence. Mr Connolly was thus free to play in the replay of the above match on 5 September.

Where was the lack of fair procedure for Connolly?

He clearly committed a red card offence and was punished with a red card.There was no unfairness.

Now you could argue that he's bring targeted off the ball (which he obviously is) and that caused him to lash out but nowhere in the GAA's rule book does it say that a retaliatory strike is permitted and is not to be punished with a red card.

Other players may have got away with stuff as well and should have been punished but again that is not unfair on Connolly as he still committed a red card offence and just because all players aren't punished does not mean another player should not be punished either.2 wrongs don't make a right.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 05/09/2015 10:20:27    1782548

mayos decision to appeal Kevin keanen's card probably is the reason Dublin pursued this to such an extent .... bizarrely mayo didn't even play Keane the last day so in a round about way it's mayo actions in appealing the Keane card that's led us to this decision !

rossy15 (Roscommon) - Posts: 662 - 05/09/2015 10:21:51    1782551

7 red cards have been overturned this year which means that basically it's pointless for the referees to award red cards as the appropriate punishment will not be handed down.

I wouldn't be surprised if the referee's took action against the GAA. The way they have been treated this year is a disgrace.

uibhfhaili1986 (Offaly) - Posts: 1296 - 05/09/2015 10:22:10    1782552

uibhfhaili1986
County: Offaly
Posts: 638

1782525
To the 2 Dublin posters above.

2 wrongs don't make a right.

Connolly committed a red card offence and then was given a red card.There was no evidence that shows he didn't deserve to get a red card.

What anyone else did is irrelevant.

To use an analogy.Just because one murderer was not caught by the guards does not mean the justice system should free every murderer in jail right now.

------
Well Sherlock unfortunately your analogy is flawed. There is clear video evidence of the second murder in this case and the first (Connolly's) was an act of self-defence as he was being choked at the time. Any more theories or do you need to phone Watson now?

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4748 - 05/09/2015 10:24:37    1782555

This is a joke! If he was a regular footballer this would never be appealed so far.
I'm sick of top flight inter county footballer getting away with clearly 100% warranted suspension. And I don't just mean in this case of Diarmuid Connolly.
I wonder how he really got off!
Completely ridiculous.

David (Meath) - Posts: 567 - 05/09/2015 10:26:20    1782556

It's a disgrace that the regular appeal channels are undermined by this. I wonder if Leitrim pursued this to the same level that Dublin did would they get a red card rescinded for an identical incident?

Jimin10 (Meath) - Posts: 783 - 05/09/2015 10:31:52    1782565

Joxer
County: Dublin
Posts: 2495
conolly threw the punch? did the mayo players throw a punch? did connolly have to punch him? no he did not
self defence? are you joking?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 05/09/2015 10:32:49    1782567