Sheridan"s fury as mentor escapes any punishment

OUTGOING Westmeath minor board chairman Sean Sheridan has blasted the GAA"s disciplinary system after a loophole allowed a mentor who kicked an opposing player to avoid a suspension. Addressing last week"s annual Minor Board convention in Mullingar, Sheridan was vocal in his criticism of the system that allowed the mentor, who was not publicly identified, to go unpunished. Sheridan, a well-known Westmeath referee, claimed it was 'wrong' and criticised people who appealed decisions on a technicality. 'We had a situation in Westmeath where a mentor ran on to the field and kicked a player on the ground,' revealed Sheridan. 'We dealt with it, but because of a technicality, the man walked away without a suspension. Because of me not dotting my i"s and crossing my t"s, he got away with it. Does anyone think that"s right?' The Tyrrellspass clubman also explained how an up-and-coming inter-county referee in the county quit after he was attacked and threatened during a game. 'We had a young referee who was on the Leinster panel assaulted on the field - and he"s gone now. He was told that the head would be taken off him (on the pitch),' Sheridan added. Sheridan was re-elected as a Leinster Council delegate last Saturday night, having stepped down from the role of minor board chairman earlier in the week. John Weir of Raharney succeeds Sheridan as Westmeath Minor Board chairman.