Galvin expected to be fit for attack

Kerry's All Star forward Paul Galvin is expected to recover from a bruised shoulder ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland senior football…

Kerry's All Star forward Paul Galvin is expected to recover from a bruised shoulder ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland senior football semi-final against Dublin at Croke Park.

The north Kerry native will retain his place at wing forward after responding to treatment for an injury sustained in the All-Ireland quarter-final defeat of Monaghan on August 12th.

Galvin could be joined in the Kerry attack by Bryan Sheehan, who is widely expected to dislodge Mike Frank Russell when Pat O'Shea announces a starting line-up today.

In another predicted change, Tommy Griffin is set to start ahead of Pádraig Reidy, with Killian Young or Aidan O'Mahony moving to corner back to accommodate Griffin.

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The back line is expected to line out in response to Dublin's forward configuration, players following their opposite numbers during the rotational process.

Meanwhile, the GAA disciplinary system has come under scrutiny this week after the decision by the Central Competitions Controls Committee "to seek clarification from the match referee in relation to an incident in . . . the All-Ireland football championship semi-final between Cork and Meath" failed to produce any significant result.

The "incident" referred to involved Noel O'Leary and Graham Geraghty, when television replays showed the Cork defender clearly striking the Meath man. Referee Brian Crowe did not witness the incident, but on consulting a linesman showed O'Leary a yellow card, which would usually preclude further punishment.

But the CCCC exercised their prerogative of sending Crowe video evidence that would have allowed him to couch his report so as to pave the way for further disciplinary action. Crowe elected to stand over his initial sanction so the case is closed.

"Based on the clarification received, the CCCC were not in a position to take any further action," said a short statement from Croke Park.

If the clear video evidence had been acted on, O'Leary could have received an eight-week suspension that would rule him out of the All-Ireland football final on September 16th. He was already suspended for four weeks arising from an incident with Kerry's Galvin in the Munster final on July 1st.

When asked whether the referee is being overburdened after the fact, referee's committee spokesman Pearse Freaney replied: "That's the current procedure so we can't deviate from it. It remains a matter for the CCCC.

"Current regulations don't allow any other situation and there must be an acceptance of disciplinary structures."

Freaney does, however, envisage a new type of disciplinary arm being introduced to offset the current wave of self-preservation: "A more independent body with people not tied to counties. There are GAA people out there who are removed from the political aspect of the association."

Regarding the case of Dublin hurler Peadar Carton, CCCC chairman Jimmy Dunne confirmed the case would be reheard, but was unable to state whether this would occur before the under-21 All-Ireland hurling final between Dublin and the winners of Galway and Cork on September 9th.

"I don't want to expand any further except to say we revisited it and the wheels have been set in motion to process the matter."

However, the Central Hearing Committee chairman, John O'Reilly, was adamant yesterday his group could not hear the same case twice. "Central Council and management can set up another committee to hear it, but it cannot come before us again," he said.

Finally, Laois 16-year-old sensation Donie Kingston is expected to feature in Sunday's All-Ireland minor semi-final against Derry despite a groin injury.

Kingston's rapid progress has already seen him represent the under-21 team this season.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent