'Technicality' leaves Keegan free to play on Saturday
Mayo’s Lee Keegan is available to play in Saturday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final replay after his red card from last Sunday was rescinded.
Keegan saw red shortly before half-time for this very half-hearted kick out at Kerry’s Johnny Buckley.
Mayo appealed the card and last night the GAA Central Hearings Committee unexpectedly upheld the appeal.
The reasoning given for the decision was that the referee described the incident in his match report as “kicking with minimal force”.
Mayo GAA provided video evidence to show Keegan’s petulant kick did not make contact with Buckley and therefore that description was inaccurate.
The decision has attracted a fair amount of controversy, particularly as had the referee described the foul as “attempting to kick with minimal force” the correct punishment would still have been a red card.
The Lee Keegan thing is gas. Shouldn't have been sent off, shouldn't have been cleared. Only in the GAA
— Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) August 28, 2014
That's pretty farcical that Lee Keegan can play for #mayogaa tomorrow. Makes another mockery of the #gaa approach
— Len Raynor (@Connoed) August 29, 2014
Classic GAA reaction to the LeeKeegan story. Many say justice served, even though the ref was clearly correct. Who'd be a ref/rule maker?
— Michael Foley📚🖊 (@MickFoley76) August 28, 2014
Mayo won't be too concerned about the logic of the decision - the wing-back's availability gives the county a major boost ahead of the crucial semi-final replay in Limerick.
As reported in today's Irish Examiner the county have requested access to the Gaelic Grounds this evening for training, to allow their freetakers and goalies practice on the surface.
Mayo representatives also measured the dinensions of the pitch earlier in the week, amid concerns Kerry have an advantage in being more familiar with the ground than the Connacht side.
Hat tip: Irish Times
