Clare's Gordon Kelly was handed a three-month suspension earlier this month after it was alleged he squirted water at an umpire during their side's draw with Tipperary.
The suspension was strongly criticised by Clare boss Colm Collins, who would have to do without the Miltown club man for the rest of the league.
There was a ridiculous decision at the end of the match when Gordon Kelly was cleaning water out of a bottle and one of the umpires alleged that he hit him with the water.
All he did was clean out the water bottle before he drank it, like every player does. The umpire says he hit him, which Gordon denies, and he got three months for it. By all means protect the officials, but let there be something to protect them from — if you are going to suspend a player for that long.
Now footage has emerged of the incident in question, and while it is quite difficult to make out due to the video's quality, it does appear as if Collins may have a case.
The GAA are standing behind their decision to ban Clare’s Gordon Kelly for 3 months for this. Can anyone explain the logic to me?? Alleged incident happens in the first 2 seconds #GAA pic.twitter.com/SD038vVf1o
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) March 12, 2018
It’s clear as day to anyone with half a brain that this is ludicrous. The umpire claims the water was sprayed at him. You can clearly see Gordon clean out the bottle before taking a drink. pic.twitter.com/KDKcPKyv2Y
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) March 12, 2018
And what's more galling is when you watch the full clip, a player goes to confront the umpire and Gordon is the one to pull him away from it.
— Derrick Lynch (@DLynchSport) March 12, 2018
Clare are currently fifth in Division 2 with four points from five games and will have to do without Kelly for their final two league games.
