Advertisement
Turlough O'Brien, Brendan Murphy and Steven Poacher. Inpho

20-week and 12-week bans handed out to Carlow trio after this incident with referee

Manager Turlough O’Brien, midfielder Brendan Murphy and coach Steven Poacher have been hit with lengthy suspensions.

THE GAA’S CENTRAL Hearings Committee (CHC) have imposed lengthy suspensions on Carlow’s Turlough O’Brien, Brendan Murphy and Stephen Poacher for using “threatening conduct towards a referee” at end of their league defeat to Down last month.

Manager O’Brien has been hit with a 20-week ban, while coach Poacher and midfielder Murphy have both received 12-week suspensions.  

As first reported by The42 last week, it relates to an incident at the end of Carlow’s round 6 Division 3 game against Down on 16 March when referee James Bermingham was confronted after the full-time whistle.

The42.ie / YouTube

All three have the option of appealing the CHC decision to the Central Appeals Committee (CAC).

The alleged infraction of “minor physical interference with a referee” was not proven in all three cases. 

If the bans are accepted they will have major repercussions for Carlow’s championship campaign. Murphy has been one of their leading players over the last decade while O’Brien and Poacher guided them to promotion from Division 4 and the Leinster semi-final in 2018.

Meanwhile, no penalty will be imposed on Monaghan defender Fintan Kelly who received a red card against Mayo on 24 March. The alleged infraction of ”striking with an elbow”  found not proven by the CHC and his record will be amended accordingly.

Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:

Author
Kevin O'Brien
View 14 comments
Close
14 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

    Leave a commentcancel