Offaly defender James Mahon has failed in his bid to have his red card rescinded ahead of next Sunday's Division 1B hurling league final against Waterford, with the young defender set to miss the Páirc Uí Chaoimh showdown.
The Kilcormac Killoughey club-man was shown a straight red card in the 23rd minute of Offaly's loss to Waterford last Saturday for a tackle on Gavin Fives.
Offaly were trailling the Déise by 0-6 to 0-4 at that stage with the Déise kicking on, buoyed by their numerical advantage, to win by 0-22 to 1-11.
Mahon was sent off on the grounds of dangerous play by referee Johnny Murphy, after discussions with his linesman Sean Stack, with the Croke Park hearings committee turning down Offaly's appeal on Thursday night.
Cárta dearg bronnta ansin agus tá Uíbh Fháilí síos go 14! 😯
Cad a cheapann sibh sa mbaile faoin gceann sin? Offaly are down to 14.
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺@AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/LNzFmAZL6n
— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 22, 2025
Mahon's red card is the latest in a string of dismissals as hurling's clamp-down on head-high tackles continues, although Mahon and Offaly argued that he didn't catch Fives in the head.
Four players were sent off during Tipperary's victory over Kilkenny in Nowlan Park a fortnight ago, with both Mikey Carey and Alan Tynan also seeing their red cards upheld on appeal.
The next few weeks are extremely busy for Mahon and his fellow Offaly U20 panellists, with their Leinster U20 campaign running off alongside the league final and the opening rounds of the championship. Donal Shirley, Dan Ravenhill and Daniel Bourke are also part of Leo O'Connor's U20 team, as is Adam Screeney though he is currently sidelined with an osteitis pubis injury.
Offaly begin the defence of their All-Ireland U20 crown next Saturday week against Galway in Ballinasloe, the day before the seniors play Waterford in the league final in Cork.
While it was initially thought Mahon could miss that game instead, it's emerged that supensions apply to games in the same competition, meaning he will miss the national final.
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