Laois GAA have proposed a two-game ban for Camross hurler Darrell Dooley following the county final incident that left Rathdowney-Errill’s Ross King with a serious facial injury.
The Laois County Board carried out an investigation into the incident and the CCC met on Thursday night.
Having clarified with referee John O’Brien that the yellow card was for the two pulls prior to the collision that injured King, they were free to hand out further punishment.
And Dooley was done for a Category 3 offence which leads to a minimum two-game suspension. A Category 3 offence in this regard, according to the rulebook, is for “striking with hurley, either with force or causing injury” or “attempting to strike with hurley, with force”.
Dooley’s ban will come into play in the Leinster club championship when Camross play the Wexford champions on Sunday, November 4. Should Camross win that game he would also be suspended for the provincial semi-final. If Camross lose that game his suspension will carry over into next year’s Laois championship.
Incidentally, Dooley was sent off in last year’s Leinster club game against Mount Leinster Rangers with his suspension from that being served in the opening round of Laois this year against Castletown Gaels.
Camross were informed of the decision on Friday morning and now have three days to accept the ban or to request a hearing. The Hearings Committee have the power to lift the suspension – or to increase it if they see fit.
The incident in question occurred in the 25th minute of last Sunday’s final and was the big talking point of the game, which saw Camross win the Bob O’Keeffe Cup for a second year running and a 26th time overall.
Rathdowney-Errill manager John Delaney described the decision only to give a yellow card as “disgraceful” after the game.
Things escalated during the week when photos of Camross players apparently mocking the injury during their celebrations were circulated on social media.
Following that video footage of a melee in their semi-final win over Borris-Kilcotton also did the rounds.
That skirmish wasn’t looked into by Laois GAA but it’s understood that there will be greater pressure to investigate incidents like that in 2019.
Camross have been contacted to make a comment on this story but so far have not responded.
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