Clodiagh Gaels appeal Keenaghan sending off as Hyland accepts suspension

Clodiagh Gaels have appealed a red card given to county player Joey Keenaghan in the first half of their Senior “B” Hurling Championship semi-final win over Birr. Offaly senior footballer Dylan Hyland also got a red card in the second half after getting involved in a melee but he has accepted his punishment and will be suspended for Saturday's final against Kilcormac-Killoughey in Tullamore.

Clodiagh Gaels will be desperate to get Keenaghan back. Keenaghan, along with Liam Langton, are Clodiagh Gaels' two most important hurlers and the absence of two automatic starters in him and Hyland would really damage their final prospects.

Two Birr players, Conor Callaghan and Craig Shortt were also sent off and they have appealed against their proposed bans – Callaghan went along with Keenaghan after an off the ball altercation in the 18th minute. Referee Matthew Farrell brandished reds after consulting with umpires when he spotted Callaghan lying on the ground.

Dylan Hyland and Craig Shortt joined them for an early shower in the 35th minute after a row erupted near the sideline on the hospital side of O'Connor Park.

While Hyland's first game is football, he is also a good hurler, an important player for Clodiagh Gaels. He will be a big loss but the absence of Keenaghan would load the dice heavily against them.

The Hearings Committee meeting to deal with the appeals will have to take place later this week and it could possibly be on Wednesday evening.

Keenaghan and the Birr players, however, will have to produce video evidence to conclusively prove that the referee made a mistake and they shouldn't have been sent off.