Five-time All-Star Joe Canning has said that the inconsistencies surrounding the GAA's disciplinary system is a more frustrating aspect than the number of citations that fail to stick.
The Portumna great was speaking at the launch of the Bord Gáis Energy County Pride t-shirts and when asked whether or not the GAA’s disciplinary system remains fit for purpose in the wake of the latest appeals controversy surrounding Clare's Peter Duggan and Rory Hayes and Galway’s Cianan Fahy, the 2017 Hurler of the Year argued that the key concerns lay elsewhere.
"The issue I kind of have with it is that the whole situation, especially the Clare lads and stuff like that and how it was brought to life, the issue I have is that it was very much one-sided. That it wasn’t as impartial and there were no highlights of Limerick players [indiscretions], it was all just Clare," said Canning, who will be in one of the pundits’ chairs for Saturday's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-final double bill on RTÉ.
"I think that’s the issue I have more so than anything, how people influence that side of things. I think when you’re in that position you have to give both sides. And maybe there wasn’t anything but I'm just saying it looked bad for me looking in that it was all about the Clare lads.
"Now what they did was wrong, what Cianan Fahy did was wrong but then the system of how they got off, it’s a hard one to know."
Canning said the one of the main victims in the piece was Munster final referee John Keenan who had earned plaudits for contributing to an extra-time epic that saw Limerick eventually get the better of the Banner.
"Obviously there is some kind of flaw in the system. If you went down that road of looking at videos back after matches there would be lads suspended left, right and centre.
"I think it’s an injustice to John Keenan and everybody on that day who officiated. I think he did a great job on the game. Honestly I think it was one of the best referring performances in a long time."
The Central Hearings Committee's decision to exonerate the three players, believed to be because of a technicality flagged by Galway GAA, means that Fahy will be available for the Tribesmen’s All-Ireland quarter-final with Cork on Saturday.
That’s a boost for Henry Shefflin as they try and get their season back on track following their disappointing Leinster final defeat to Kilkenny.
Canning believes the negativity around their performance has been overhyped, instead pointing to the first-half performance of Kilkenny goalkeeper Eoin Murphy – and he feels that Shefflin has his side in a good position for an assault on the All-Ireland series.
"They were going in the right direction before the Leinster final. It was just one of those days when they didn’t quite click into gear.
"They were going on a good trajectory before the Leinster final. If they got a goal or two, it’s all ifs and buts, but if they got a goal or two we could be talking about a totally different thing.
"I’d be very happy with what Henry has brought so far. I think the Leinster campaign before the final was a good campaign. You couldn’t ask for too much more really than what we got.
"Seventy minutes can put a perception very differently and very quickly into peoples’ minds."
The 'sold out’ signs will be up at FBD Semple Stadium with Clare and Wexford also in action. It will be the first All-Ireland series game Galway will play since Canning’s inter-county retirement in July 2021 and despite the buzz surrounding the games, he has not altered his view that he is more than happy with his decision to step away.
"I’m fine. I don’t really miss it. I’ve said before, maybe it’s the [Galway] minors that’s taken that, I wouldn’t say void but that area that maybe I would have been sitting at home on my arse wondering what am I going to do.
"Maybe the minor thing, going with them for three sessions a week is filling that. I don’t miss it at all to be honest."
The Galway minors are also in action at this weekend as they face Limerick at the LIT Gaelic Grounds on Sunday afternoon in an All-Ireland semi-final.
Canning, part of Fergal Healy’s management team, said that it’s about time that the county’s minor sides followed their seniors into the Leinster Championship.
"It’s a no-brainer really. The more games you can play the better.
"Clare are in action on Friday night [v Offaly]. I think they’ve played five or six matches already through Munster and through the round-robin – and it could be more. We’ve played two.
"The development for the Galway minors compared to the Clare minors is chalk and cheese."
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Follow the All-Ireland Hurling Championship quarter-finals on Saturday, Galway v Cork (1.45pm) and Clare v Wexford (3.45pm), via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 1.15pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Follow the Tailteann Cup semi-finals on Sunday, Sligo v Cavan (1.45pm) and Offaly v Westmeath (4pm), via our live blog on rte.ie/sport or on the RTÉ News app. Watch live coverage on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player commencing at 1.30pm with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
