Dublin will be without Diarmuid Connolly until a potential All Ireland semi final as the St Vincent’s star has decided that he will not appeal the 12 week ban handed down by the CCCC for an incident with linesman Ciaran Brannigan last Saturday evening in the sky blues Leinster SFC quarter final against Carlow in O’Moore Park.
Connolly did have the option to take an appeal to the Central Hearings Committee who have the power to overturn, reduce or extend any suspension handed down by Central Competitions Control Committee.
But a county board confirmed that Connolly didn’t want to appeal the decision and would accept the ban although the county board did want to ask some questions but that won’t be happening now.
The official said: “As far as we know he is not going to appeal it.
“Diarmuid didn’t want to, the county board just wanted to ask a few questions but it’s not going to be questioned now and that’s where we are at.”
The over the top rejoicing and disgusting comments made about the player over the last week, by those outside of the county may very well come back to haunt them.
If Dublin go the direct route, which many expect them to do and reach the All Ireland semi final on the 27th of August then Connolly will be available for selection and that will see a rejuvenated, fresh, Diarmuid Connolly with a point to prove and raring to go for the two biggest games of the season and that could be the ace in the hole for Jim Gavin and his squad to retain their title and will see them lift the Sam Maguire Cup for the third season in a row.
For all of Connolly’s detractors there’s an old saying that comes to mind, ‘Be Careful What You Wish’.