Mayo fans, prepare to be raging.
Dublin’s Diarmuid Connolly has been cleared to play in this evening’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay against Mayo.
The forward’s one game suspension had been upheld by both the Central Hearings Committee and the Central Appeals Committee after Connolly appeared to hit Lee Keegan in an off-the-ball skirmish last Sunday.
BREAKING NEWS: Diarmuid Connolly appeal to the DRA successful. He’s clear to line out v @MayoGAA tomorrow. #UpTheDubs
— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) September 5, 2015
But the St. Vincent’s man brought his case to the Disputes Resolution Authority last night and in the early hours of this morning, it was decided that Connolly’s ban would be quashed.
Here’s the GAA’s explanation for the decision to let Connolly play.
“At a hearing on 4 September at the Regency Hotel Airport in Dublin, a DRA Panel chaired by former Supreme Court judge Hugh O’Flaherty (with solicitors David Nohilly and Brian Rennick) upheld a claim by Diarmuid Connolly against a one match ban arising out of an infraction during the drawn Mayo v Dublin All-Ireland semi final of Sunday, August 30.
“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.
“This statement is for informational purposes only. A full, written award reflective of the hearing as a whole, will be issued by the above DRA Panel within two weeks and will be published on sportsdra.ie.”
Understandably, the GAA’s disciplinary system became even more unpopular on social media.
Extraordinary decision yet again by the disciplinary system. Setting a precedent ! Dublin win the battle ,up to Mayo now to win the war….. — Diarmuid O’Sullivan (@dsully3) September 5, 2015
So Connolly plays today. Some news to wake up to. Not sure what it says about the GAA’s disciplinary system but it’s huge for Dublin. — David McIntyre (@DaveMcIntyreNT) September 5, 2015
Let’s make clear it’s not #diarmuidconnolly I have any issue with , it’s process . 5am thumbs up from GAA. Makes no sense — Niall Breslin (@nbrez) September 5, 2015
So it’s okay to punch another player in front of 82000 people & on live TV… #Connolly #DRA — Killian Whelan (@Killian_Whelan) September 5, 2015
Great news for Dublin with Dermot free to play today. GAA ‘s system is some joke #dubsvmayo #dubsby5 — Conal keaney (@ConalKeaney) September 5, 2015
It’s a joke Connolly allowed to play today.I knew this was going to happen no point announcing it during the week. Dublin GAA =Big Business — Kieran Joyce (@KieranJoyce6) September 5, 2015
How can a lad be sent off and then cleared to play a week later #GAA making it up as they go along again #connolly — JohnMurphy (@SportCasuals) September 5, 2015
Some craic in the last few minutes of the game tonight as lads punch the heads off each other knowing full well they can’t be suspended #GAA — Cormac O’Malley (@cormacpro) September 5, 2015
When Sepp Blatter retires, he can get a job at the GAA! He’ll fit right in! Appeal, Appeal, Appeal! Nonsense! #mayogaa #gaa — Sean Garvin (@garvin_sean) September 5, 2015
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