Connaire Mackin jabbed his boot towards Conor Glass’s head as the Derry midfielder lay on the ground. File photo via Sportsfile
Armagh defender Connaire Mackin could miss his team’s final All-Ireland SFC Group 1 game against Galway in Markievicz Park on Sunday week as the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) has commenced an investigation into an incident during their win over Derry last weekend.
Mackin jabbed his boot towards Conor Glass’s head as the Derry midfielder lay on the ground in the 10th minute on Sunday, and while it was with minimal force it could still be enough to merit a Category 3 charge that would carry a one-game ban.
Referee David Coldrick and his match officials missed the incident in real time but the CCCC – which met yesterday to finalise venues, dates and times for the final round of football group games – have reviewed footage of the incident.
They could decide in the coming days to propose a charge for the defender, who deputised for brother Ciarán at the weekend after he was confirmed to have sustained a cruciate ligament tear.
Meanwhile, Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has opted to accept a four-week ban and a one-game penalty arising out of the incident that flared up at the end of the Déise’s narrow Munster SHC loss to Clare.
Fitzgerald’s animated approach to referee Liam Gordon was deemed worthy of a Category 11a offence which covers abusive language towards a match official or disruptive conduct.
Fitzgerald had disputed any assertion that he was abusive in his comments towards the referee but with the inter-county season over for Waterford, he opted to accept. Should he still be managing Waterford or any senior county team in 2025, he’ll have to sit out the first round of the championship as a one-match ban applies if there is no relevant game falling within the four weeks.
A member of the Clare backroom team who faced a similar penalty is also understood to have accepted a ban.
