Laois' McNulty hopes McKeever will play in SFC opener
Justin McNulty
Laois manager Justin McNulty has said it would be "disappointing" if his former Armagh teammate Ciaran McKeever missed out on the Ulster SFC opener against Tyrone.
McKeever was issued with a red card by referee Michael Duffy before the commencement of the second half of Armagh's recent Allianz Football League encounter with Laois.
He was reported for allegedly kicking a Laois player in the tunnel on the way to the dressing rooms at half-time.
McKeever denies the charge, and had his red card rescinded by the Central Hearings Committee last Friday because a fourth official's evidence is not sufficient to warrant such a penalty.
The Armagh defender subsequently played in last Saturday's win over Ulster rivals Down in Newry and scored a vital point in the closing stages of the game.
An application by the Central Competition Controls Committee (CCCC) to adjourn the original two-match ban they imposed was accepted by the CHC.
The CCCC may conclude their investigation tomorrow night at a scheduled meeting, and this could see McKeever miss Armagh's clash with the Red Hands in early June.
There is also the prospect of a fresh two-match ban which would see McKeever miss the Orchard men's last match in Division 1 against Donegal and the Ulster SFC opener against Tyrone on June 10.
Speaking at the launch of the Kelloggs' GAA Cul Camps today at Croke Park, McNulty said: "Ciaran McKeever is a player I have been to war with and he is a good friend. I like the fella and he is a fantastic warrior.
"I think it would be sad if he was to miss out on any Championship action as a result of what happened in Portlaoise."
On the wider issue of the furore which surrounded the aftermath of the game, which saw Armagh County Board issue a statement suggesting racist hatred, McNulty says the hysteria which ensued was less than satisfactory for all involved.
"I think ulimately neither teams were happy with the furore that ensued after that match," he said.
"I'm a proud Armagh man, but I'm in Laois to do a job and I know that the Armagh players and the Armagh management team and the Laois players and County Board and management team - certainly nobody was happy with what ensued in the press.
"But I do think that the GAA and the Laois and Armagh County Boards have issued a statement. I've nothing to further add on the issue.
"All I can say is that I have to commend my players and the Laois County Board in terms of their control during the whole hysteria."
Click to stay connected with
more stories like this:
more stories like this:
