Armagh legend Oisin McConville believes Tiernan Kelly should brace himself for a lengthy suspension saying the GAA will want to make an “example” of him.
McConville was speaking on the Second Captains podcast as the fallout continues from Galway’s penalty shoot-out victory over Armagh at Croke Park on Sunday.
The GAA’s CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) will meet today (Tuesday) to review referee David Coldrick’s match report and discuss what disciplinary action will be taken.
Read more: Former GAA president says big changes needed after Armagh-Galway brawl
The two counties produced a bona fide classic in front of over 70,000 spectators as the Tribesmen sealed a semi-final meeting with Derry following a 4-1 win on penalties after the sides couldn’t be separated after extra-time.
However, the game itself has been overshadowed by the unsavoury melee which took place at the end of normal time as the teams made their way towards the tunnel at the Cusack Stand side of the pitch.
Armagh's Tiernan Kelly, who wasn’t a part of Armagh’s match-day panel, was involved in what appeared to be an eye-gouge on Galway forward Damien Comer. The Clann Éireann clubman hasn't featured since the Ulster Championship defeat to Donegal and is understood to be suffering from blood-clot issues.
“As much as Armagh want to distance themselves from it, they're still you know linked with it and you can't defend it so get out in front of it absolutely but I think the GAA will make a huge example out of him," said McConville.
When pressed on how long Kelly could be banned for, McConville replied: “It could be six months.”
McConville, who is the uncle of Armagh star Rian O’Neill, claimed that Kelly had already reached out to the Galway team to offer an apology.
“He's still a young lad like that's the thing I keep coming back to, we've all made mistakes,” added McConville.
“It's the heat of the moment, it's a mistake. He needs to learn his lesson and I don't know what the best way for us to do that is, but certainly he needs to be banned - there's no point saying anything different.
“I'd still worry for him as a young lad, I know what's happened since you know he's done everything that's expected of him. He's made contact with Galway. He's absolutely devastated, but again I'm not excusing it, there's absolutely no excusing it.
“I think his reaction is the right reaction rather than burying his head in the sand so he deserves some sort of credit for that, but what he did, unfortunately, whether it be in the heat of the moment or not, like you said it's indefensible.”
Kieran McGeeney’s men also lost defender Greg McCabe on the hour mark to a straight red card while referee David Coldrick issued further reds to Galway skipper Seán Kelly and Armagh’s joint-captain Aidan Nugent before the start of extra-time.
It is understood that both Seán Kelly and Nugent were cited for ‘contributing to a melee’ and, as it stands, Kelly will miss the forthcoming All-Ireland semi-final clash with Derry on Saturday, July 9 while Nugent and McCabe would miss Armagh’s opening League game next season.
Galway, though, are expected to seek a personal hearing for Kelly at the earliest possible opportunity in a bid to clear their captain and full-back for the tie against the Ulster champions on Saturday week.
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