CHAMPIONSHIP 2002/News Round-up: The investigation into the serious hand injury sustained by Clare defender Gerry Quinn in last Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final will begin at next Wednesday's meeting of the GAA's Games Administration Committee (GAC). Representatives from Clare and Waterford will be invited to attend as the GAC attempt to discover the exact circumstances in which the injury occurred.
It was in the closing moments of the memorable win over Waterford that Quinn received the injury, later diagnosed as a compound fracture. At the time the incident went unpunished by match referee Pat O'Connor, but the 20-year-old left wing back is sure to miss next month's All-Ireland final, which is a considerable disappointment to both the player and the Clare team.
Under GAA guidelines, however, the GAC were in a position to intervene and handle any further disciplinary matter that may have arisen in the course of the game and went unpunished at the time, either because it wasn't seen or because additional video/verbal evidence was later submitted.
While Clare did not make any formal complaint, the decision to investigate the incident further was made at the GAC meeting on Wednesday night. According to GAC chairman Pauric Duffy, the extent and nature of any further evidence surrounding the incident is so far unknown.
"We decided an investigation should be set up into the manner of how the player sustained the injury," said Duffy. "The GAC as a body will act as the investigating committee itself, and the first meeting to deal with the case will be next Wednesday evening.
"Both counties will be asked to attend, and to bring any relevant witnesses. Gerry Quinn will also be invited to attend. That will be the first session, and then we'll take it from there. We're going into it with an open mind and we'll see what develops from next Wednesday."
It is understood that the RTÉ cameras on the day did not capture the incident, but the GAC are still likely to review all tapes of the game as well as review the verbal submissions from those involved to establish the exact nature of the injury, and the identity of any possible offender.
Part of the investigation will be trying to establish whether it was an off-the-ball incident or a late challenge.
For Quinn, who would have been playing in his first All-Ireland final, the outcome is unlikely to be any consolation, yet the Clare County Board have stated their desire for the authorities to thoroughly investigate what happened to ensure equity and consistency in the application of the rules.
The one major disciplinary matter decided by the GAC on Wednesday night involved Sligo wing back David Durkin, who was handed a four-week suspension after being sent off in the drawn quarter-final against Armagh in Croke Park last Sunday week.
Durkin chose not to seek a personal hearing, though his suspension, the result of a red card for a swipe on Armagh's Steven McDonnell some 12 minutes from time, was expected and thus rules him out of Sunday's replay in Navan.
In a separate decision, the GAC confirmed that Aodhan MacSuibhne from Dublin has been appointed to referee Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final as a replacement for Wexford's Dickie Murphy.
An unresolved dispute in regard to refereeing matters in Wexford meant that Murphy was unable to officiate. A meeting in Wexford that went late into Wednesday night could still not resolve the matter, and with Murphy still unable to referee in Wexford, the GAC felt it inappropriate to appoint him for a national fixture.
In another statement from Croke Park, the GAA outlined their disappointed at the reported damage to the Sam Maguire Cup. The Galway County Committee have been requested to return the cup to Croke Park so that immediate repairs can be carried out, and the committee has also been asked for an early report into the matter.
Meanwhile, the GAA confirmed that tickets for the Dublin-Donegal replay on Saturday evening will go on sale from the ticket office at the rear of the Cusack Stand in Croke Park from 11.0 this morning, while stocks last. Tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of two tickets available to each individual
Tickets for Sunday's All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Tipperary and Kilkenny will also be on sale at the same time and from the same outlet. Tickets can not be paid for by credit card.
