The most hotly anticipated game of the Football Championship got even more intriguing in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The one match suspension dished out to Diarmuid Connolly following his red card against Mayo last weekend was quashed by the Disputes Resolution Authority. It means the Dublin forward can line out against Mayo in this evening's replay at Croke Park.
The lateness of the decision, along with the fact that the DRA made it at all, has led to plenty of reaction online.
Regardless of the rights and wrongs, a disgrace that Diarmuid Connolly had to wait till 2.30 the night before a semi-final to know he's free
— Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) September 5, 2015
Extraordinary decision yet again by the disciplinary system. Setting a precedent ! Dublin win the battle ,up to Mayo now to win the war.....
— Diarmuid O'Sullivan (@dsully3) September 5, 2015
So Connolly plays today. Some news to wake up to. Not sure what it says about the GAA's disciplinary system but it's huge for Dublin.
— David McIntyre (@DaveMcIntyreNT) September 5, 2015
A system where a player learns his fate at 2am on the day of the game is surely flawed.
— David McIntyre (@DaveMcIntyreNT) September 5, 2015
So it's okay to punch another player in front of 82000 people & on live TV... #Connolly #DRA
— Killian Whelan (@Killian_Whelan) September 5, 2015
Dermo must have flown in Tom Bradys lawyer last night!!
— Barry Cahill (@barrycahilldub) September 5, 2015
Great news for Dublin with Dermot free to play today. GAA 's system is some joke #dubsvmayo #dubsby5
— Conal keaney (@ConalKeaney) September 5, 2015
August-Sept suspensions just don't stick for GAA. Think only Martin Penrose in 2013 has missed a match from last six.
— Colm Keys (@KeysColm) September 5, 2015
Would be no surprise if Diarmuid Connolly is best player on pitch this evening.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) September 5, 2015
Lee Keegan was cleared on a technicality to play Kerry in semi-final replay last year. Every county looks for loopholes.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) September 5, 2015
It's a joke Connolly allowed to play today.I knew this was going to happen no point announcing it during the week. Dublin GAA =Big Business
— Kieran Joyce (@KieranJoyce6) September 5, 2015
How can a lad be sent off and then cleared to play a week later #GAA making it up as they go along again #connolly
— JohnMurphy (@SportCasuals) September 5, 2015
Just sin bin players, no disincentive for violence by players as the game is nearly over. Joke of an organization. https://t.co/zLJ9Qaq9H5
— Martin Curran (@martincurran83) September 5, 2015
Diarmuid Connolly's is the greatest jailbreak since they got that guy out of the 'Joy by helicopter in 1973. #GAA
— An Spailpín Fánach (@anspailpin) September 5, 2015
Some craic in the last few minutes of the game tonight as lads punch the heads off each other knowing full well they can't be suspended #GAA
— Cormac O'Malley (@cormacpro) September 5, 2015
What an absolute joke shop of an organisation #GAA https://t.co/XKyiWFO8Pt
— Redmond Barry (@ReddBarry) September 5, 2015
I'm happy as the next Dub that Dermo is able to play but the whole disciplinary/ appeals in the #GAA needs a serious overhaul
— Dave Mc Grath (@TheParishDave) September 5, 2015
Close to 3am, Connolly cleared. And Dublin were dealt a king of diamonds. Full House on and off pitch. Let the poker in Croker commence.
— Roy Curtis (@RoyCurtis68) September 5, 2015
@paddypower lads get the finger out and give us the first goalscorer odds for Diarmuid Connolly today
— Dickie Rock (@Jari365) September 5, 2015
Backed Mayo in my @IrishStarSport column today but waking up to hear Diarmuid Connolly is free to play now very tempted to go with Dubs
— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) September 5, 2015
When Sepp Blatter retires, he can get a job at the GAA! He'll fit right in! Appeal, Appeal, Appeal! Nonsense! #mayogaa #gaa
— Sean Garvin (@garvin_sean) September 5, 2015
GAA RULE CHANGE: it is now ok to strike someone a box, but only if u are pulled to the ground first & u happen to be from a top 4 team! #GAA
— Graeme Molloy (@Graememolloy) September 5, 2015
The GAA appeals process is an absolute joke. This is actually disgraceful. What do you have to do to get banned for a big game?
— Michael McCarthy (@McCarthyMick) September 5, 2015
Said it was a harsh red in the 1st instance so delighted we will see @dermoc123 the best player in the country on the field of play today
— Kevin Cassidy (@KCASS7) September 5, 2015
The likes of Liam mchale and colm coyle must be bulling that these lads weren't around back in their day #whatsuspensions
— Joe Hayes (@1JoeH) September 5, 2015
GAA, like most things in this country, is dominated by self-interest. No one interested in doing the right thing.
— Peter Sweeney (@Sweeney_Peter) September 5, 2015
It makes absolutely no sense to me how you can overturn that Connolly red card. No more than Kevin Keane's for striking Murphy. #jokeshop
— Mike Quirke (@Mike_Quirke) September 5, 2015
What a joke, the GAA really need to have a look at themselves after over turning that decision. And they wonder why players get frustrated
— Joe sheridan (@Squarecut84) September 5, 2015
