Down footballer Darren O’Hagan has launched a staunch defence of his manager Paddy Tally, who is facing a 12-week ban.
Tally, similar to Cork boss Ronan McCarthy, has been proposed for the suspension on the back of a gathering of Down players on the grounds of Abbey CBS last month, days after the Cork footballers held what was described by McCarthy as a “team building” exercise on Youghal beach.
Both instances occurred during a period when the GAA insisted that no collective training sessions were to be held as Covid-19 case numbers rocketed, though Cork and Down argued their innocence at the time and neither broke the laws of the land.
Should the charges stick, it means that both managers would most likely play no part in their teams’ Allianz League Division Two campaigns.
Additionally, it is proposed that the two counties be stripped of home advantage for one League game.
It has been reported that McCarthy will challenge the ban by seeking a hearing ahead of tonight’s midnight deadline, while it is thought likely that the Cork county board will do likewise with regard to the loss of home advantage.
The Down county board has yet to comment publicly as to their intentions but O’Hagan jumped to Tally’s defence.
A now-deleted post on his Twitter account read: “Paddy Tally should be celebrated for his outstanding service to the GAA.
“He has guided and mentored Down footballers on and off-field through unprecedented times.”
Although all inter-county activity remains shut down for the time being, the suspensions for Tally and McCarthy, if upheld, would only kick in once training is allowed to resume.
