*Conor Cleary. Photograph: Martin Connolly
An appeal for Conor Cleary’s red card to be rescinded has been rejected and as of now he will miss Clare’s opening game in the Munster senior hurling championship.
Cleary was shown a red card by Kilkenny referee Sean Cleere in the Banner’s fourteen point Allianz National League quarter-final defeat to Waterford two weeks ago when he was deemed to have struck Stephen Bennett on the head. However replays have shown the Miltown man kept his eyes on the sliotar and the contact appeared to be minimal but Cleere’s decision has been supported by the Central Hearings Committee.
Peter Duggan was also dismissed in the same game but he picked up a second yellow card, an offence which does not carry a suspension.
On Thursday, the 2014 All-Ireland winning U21 centre back’s hearing took place where the one match suspension was upheld. Following on from Cleere’s match report, the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) took disciplinary action alleging that he was “behaving in any way which is dangerous to an opponent”.
Clare have the option of appealing the decision to uphold the suspension and The Clare Echo understands management will pursue this avenue.
