DUBLIN'S centre back Keith Barr won a partial reprieve at last night's meeting of the Leinster Council in Portlaoise to consider his sending off in the provincial quarter final against Westmeath just over a week ago.
Originally cited for striking, Barr adduced video evidence to argue that the offence was at worst reckless, and his argument was accepted. This means that a suspension originally feared to be a month long has been handed down as a fortnight and will therefore not prevent the Erin's Isle man from helping Dublin in the Leinster semi final against Louth at the end of the month.
Paul Kenny, the Louth manager, has been banned from the dug out until he appears before the Leinster Council, following complaints about his behaviour during the Louth Offaly match in Navan. Kenny did not attend last night's meeting because of work commitments.
It was also decided at the meeting to offer the Leinster hurling band football finals, on July 14th to 28th, to RTE for live broadcast. THE Leinster Cricket Union executive committee sits at Castle Avenue this evening to deliberate on two pressing and somewhat controversial issues.
Firstly, there is the case of YMCA, who have been accused by CYM of fielding an ineligible player in a crucial game between the sides on June 3rd. Also up for discussion is the Leinster v Malahide game at Rathmines last Sunday, when the umpires abandoned the game because of indiscipline on the field of play.
The former matter is most urgent as the committee's decision will have a bearing on who appears in next Sunday's 50 Overs League semi final, also at Rathmines. The facts of the case are reasonably straightforward. Marcus Gageby was chosen to play for YMCA, having played twice for Dublin University seconds earlier in the season.
He batted at number 10, scoring 10 not out and taking part in an eighth wicket partnership worth 29 runs. YM went on to win the game by 25 runs.
Pending tonight's vote, YMCA qualify for the semi finals in second place on 44 points, with Merrion in third on 40 and CYM next on 34.
It appears there are three possible outcomes. YMCA, who claim they knew nothing of Gageby's affiliation with Trinity when selecting the side, may be excused of making a simple error and be allowed to play on Sunday after all.
They may, however, lose the 10 points they won that day. If those points were awarded to CYM, the Terenure side (currently on 34 points) would go through. If not, Merrion would qualify on the strength of yesterday's win in College Park.
YMCA were docked to points last season, for playing David Streek before he had been officially released by his former club, Phoenix. On that occasion, the points were not re allocated.
The umpires' committee meet this morning to formulate their report on the unfortunate scenario that developed at Rathmines last Sunday. Apparently, umpire Brian Carpenter was the target for repeated verbal abuse from at least one disgruntled Malahide player. Eventually, Carpenter and his colleague David Walsh decided they'd had enough, pulled up the stomps and headed home.
This is not the first incidence of indiscipline this year. A Leinster second team player flattened his stumps with a swing of his bat after receiving an lbw decision he disliked and another umpire was incensed by remarks that were made by a Merrion player at the end of a game in Terenure last month.
A letter of apology may suffice in those cases but when a senior match is abandoned, more drastic measures are required. After hearing from the umpires this evening, the LCU executive plan to appoint a disciplinary committee to deal with the matter.
Meanwhile, Merrion had little difficulty in disposing of an under strength Trinity side at College Park yesterday. Batting first, they reached three figures in only the 13th over and their final total of 246 put them well out of danger.
