Opinion: Diarmuid Connolly received a 12-week ban and it should be left at that

On Friday night it was announced that Diarmuid Connolly and Dublin would not appeal the 12-week ban proposed by the CCCC.

Unless you have been living under a rock you will know that the talismanic forward was subject to this ban for laying his hands on an official after a dispute about a line ball. For the most part, the general public agreed that Connolly should be banned. Rule five states,

“To interfere with a Referee, Umpire, Linesman or Sideline Official – minor physical interference e.g. laying a hand on, pushing, pulling or jostling.”

The minimum punishment is 12 weeks suspension in all codes at all levels. https://twitter.com/TheSundayGame/status/871686509404930048 Connolly was guilty, simple as and even if you are to scroll through the comment sections on social media platforms you will see the majority of people agree. Dublin fans this time, for the most part, accepted that their man was guilty. And now a line should be drawn underneath it and let that be that. Connolly knew he was in the wrong and opted against an appeal. At the end of it all, he is an amateur player in an amateur sport. He didn’t sign up for the media coverage, the forum pages and the social media comments but he did sign up to play GAA. It’s no secret that he has a short temper, the two black cards and the ban exemplifies that but he’s a maverick, someone who is undoubtedly talented but not without his flaws. Dublin fans love him, every other fan dislikes him but nobody can doubt his incredible talent. Fans of Connolly will look for a precedent wherein the public shouldn’t criticise him just because he plays for Dublin. Although there is an element of that which doesn’t hold up because he plays for the best and most publicised team in the country there is reason  in the argument. Evan Comerford suffered a similar fate to Connolly in the form of a 12-week ban and it fair to say the same level of attention has not been given to that case. The Tipperary goalkeeper’s ban was reported and that was it, no follow up or columns in newspapers or segments on The Sunday Game devoted to it. Connolly should be treated the same. Yes, it is unfair to expect the public and the media to ignore one of the biggest GAA stories this year but as the weeks drag in and Dublin games are coming thick and fast he should be left to his own devices the same way Comerford has been. He is an unpaid sportsman after all.