Oisin McConville feels “100% there will be” further sanctions imposed following the ugly half-time scenes from Donegal’s All-Ireland SFC win over Kerry on Saturday and believes the GAA will “go after Jim McGuinness”.
After the hooter sounded to signal half-time, an altercation between both sets of players broke out with Kerry’s Micheal Burns striking Ryan McHugh, leaving the Donegal man with a cut over his eye, which enraged the Donegal boss who appeared to step in.
The Kingdom forward was shown red by referee Sean Hurson after the teams returned to the pitch for the start of the second period.
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 in March when clashing with Galway coach Cian Breathnach McGinn.
McConville feels the length of that ban is “absolutely ridiculous” but the precedent could come back to bite the Donegal manager.
“It’s not even in doubt [there will be further action],” McConville said on The GAA Social podcast.
“McGuinness is usually quite controlled on the sideline, but if you look at the Ger Brennan thing, the punishment does not fit the crime. Absolutely not. Three months, no involvement with the team, that was absolutely ridiculous.
“As a result of that, the GAA have created a precedent, and there’s absolutely no doubt that they’ll go after Jim McGuinness now. They haven’t really left themselves any wriggle room.”
Before the start of the second half in Killarney, referee Hurson spoke at length to McGuinness and Kerry boss Jack O’Connor, instructing them to send their substitutes and assistant coaches to the stands.
McConville, who manages Wicklow, feels that “should have been implemented at the start of the game”.
“The word is there was 45/50 people on the pitch at half-time. That shouldn’t happen. That should be something that is a follow-up to all of this stuff.”
