GAA Digest: DCU's Niall Moyna and Donegal's Jim McGuinness spar over Martin McElhinney O’Byrne Cup

A round of this week's GAA news

The GAA is to investigate disgraceful scenes at the All-Ireland junior club semifinal in Portlaoise on Sunday when Tyrone’s Derrytresk defeated Kerry side Dromid Pearses.

A brawl erupted just before halftime while Dromid’s Kerry star Declan O’Sullivan was struck by a handbag amidst ugly scenes at the end of the game.

Dromid selector and Kerry county board officer Diarmuid O Se has complained about a lack of security for players and called on the GAA to investigate using video evidence.

O'Se said, “While Derrytresk beat us comprehensively on the day, I thought that some of the scenes out there were some of the most disgraceful I have ever witnessed at a football game.

“I cannot understand how the GAA can allow this to happen. There was no security there today for our players.”

Derrytresk are due to face Clonbur of Galway in the JFC Final on 12 February.
 
Ready to Return

Injured Kildare duo Dermot Earley and Hugh Lynch should be ready to return to the county squad in two months.

“They are going well at the minute, probably the best-case scenario is around March some time,” said Kildare manager Kieran McGeeney after his team beat Dublin in the O’Byrne Cup semifinal on Sunday.

The win marked McGeeney’s first victory over the Dubs, but he refused to dwell on it.

“It seemed to be more important for the media than it was for me. For the players at this time of the year the big thing is to stake a claim to a place against Tyrone for the first round of the NFL and try to keep it,” he added.

Kildare have turned down a request from college side DCU to play the O’Byrne Cup final as a midweek fixture and insist it will go ahead on Sunday as planned.
 
Tipp Top Shape

Tipperary hurling boss Declan Ryan was more than pleased with his team’s progress after they beat Limerick IT in the preliminary round of the Waterford Crystal Cup on Sunday.

“We have to be pleased with the victory and the manner in which we went about it,” said Ryan.

“We are a lot more advanced this time round than we were last year and I supposed that showed out there too. We have a few new lads out there at the moment and we are giving them a chance because they have shown up well in training.”

Meanwhile, Tipp’s footballers will meet Cork in the McGrath Cup final on Sunday after beating UCC in the semi-final in Clonmel on Sunday.

Tipp boss John Evans said, “We will welcome Cork and they don’t need anybody to tell them how good they are. They are at the start of the year, the same as ourselves, and at least we will be playing somebody that is at the same level of fitness.

“It is a big challenge but we set a target of trying to get to the McGrath Cup final.”

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Nster.com