GAA social: McConville thinks GAA ‘will go after McGuinness’

Oisin McConville thinks “100% will” have more bans imposed after the ugly half-time scene in Donegal’s All-Ireland SFC win over Kerry on Saturday and believes the GAA will “follow Jim McGuinness”.

After the hooter sounded to signal half-time, an altercation broke out between both sets of players with Kerry’s Michael Barnes hitting Ryan McHugh, which left the Donegal man with a cut over his eye, angering the Donegal boss, who appeared to enter.

After the teams returned to the pitch at the start of the second half, referee Sean Herson showed the Kingdom forward a red.

Dublin manager Ger Brennan is currently serving a 12-week ban for ‘physical interference with an opposing player or team official’ during his side’s league game against Galway during a clash with Galway coach Cian Breathnach McGinn.

McConville thinks the length of the ban is “absolutely ridiculous” but the precedent could come back to bite the Donegal manager.

“It’s not even in doubt (that further action will be taken),” McConville said on the GAA Social Podcast.

“McGuinness is usually pretty controlled on the sidelines, but if you look at the Ger Brennan thing, the punishment doesn’t fit the offense. Not at all. Three months, no involvement with the team, it was absolutely ridiculous.

“As a result, the GAA set a precedent, and there’s no doubt they’ll now go after Jim McGuinness. They’ve really left themselves no wiggle room.”

Before the start of the second half in Killarney, referee Harson had a long talk with McGuinness and Kerry boss Jack O’Connor, ordering them to send the substitutes and assistant coaches to the stands.

McConville, who manages Wicklow, felt that “should have been implemented earlier in the game”.

“The word is there were 45/50 people on the pitch at half-time. It shouldn’t be like that. It should be something that follows all these things.”