Waterford praise Kehoe over de Burca appeal

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan has praised "absolutely outstanding" Harry Kehoe for speaking at Tadgh de Burca's appeal hearing.

Deise sweeper de Burca was shown a red card by referee Fergal Horgan towards the end of Waterford's 1-23 to 1-19 All-Ireland SHC quarter-final win over Wexford on 23 July, following an off-the-ball incident with Kehoe.

The Central Hearings Committee [CHC] upheld the one-match ban, which means de Burca is suspended for Waterford's All-Ireland semi-final against Cork on 13 August. but Shanahan confirmed that Cloughbawn clubman Kehoe travelled to Dublin for the hearing to speak on de Burca's behalf.

"I don't know the ins and outs, but he did travel up and spoke, by all accounts brilliantly, above at the meeting, to no avail," Shanahan said.

"Harry said what he had to say and I heard he was absolutely outstanding.

"Credit to Harry and [Wexford manager] Davy Fitz for that, but if the shoe was on the other foot, we'd have went up there as well, to be honest with you."

Waterford may now take the case to the GAA's Central Appeals Committee [CAC] and then the independent Disputes Resolution Authority [DRA], but Shanahan admits he is disappointed that the CHC did not strike down the charge at the first opportunity.

"Again, it's just amazing that Harry can say there was no intent there and yet he [De Burca] can still get a suspension," he continued.

"The law is the law and that's what they'll say - his hand touched his helmet, but intentional though? There was no intent there.

"For his own sake and our sake, the sooner it's sorted, the better."

Waterford are playing an internal 15 v 15 game on Friday night, where Deise manager Fitzgerald will start honing his tactics for the match against Cork, and Shanahan admits the uncertainty surrounding de Burca will affect Fitzgerald's preparations.

"We'd like to know then, who's to play where and what options we have," he continued.

"To get the right option is key because Tadhg was so good at doing that job.

"It's a tricky situation. Would I rather it was sorted by now? Of course I would, because you'd like to be settling things down and seeing how you're going and picking teams and stuff like that, even for Tadhg himself, to try and get his head right."

Photo Inpho/CathalNoonan

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