Donaghy dismisses controversial incident as 'a bit of fun'

The Kerry player has defended himself following calls for him to be banned due to his conduct in last weekend’s game against Cork.

KERRY FOOTBALLER KIERAN Donaghy has defended his behaviour in last Sunday’s Munster SFC Final with Cork, despite replays that showed the player appearing to lash out at Cork’s Noel O’Leary.

While 60% of you feel that Donaghy should have been sent off, the player was only booked by referee David Coldrick at the time of the incident.

In addition, under the terms outlined in Congress last April, the Central Competitions Controls Committee are not entitled to take retrospective action for any such incidents.

Nonetheless, ex-Mayo player and Sunday Game analyst, Kevin McStay, urged the CCCC to take further action against the player, while Donaghy has protested his innocence.

Speaking on Newstalk show Off the Ball, the player said:

“I heard it looked bad on television but it actually wasn’t, I looked back at him when I got the yellow card and he was running off laughing.”

He added that the incident was just “a bit of fun” and said that “there was no-one hurt” as a result of his actions.

Donaghy will now be available for the upcoming All-Ireland SFC Quarter-Finals.

It is not the first time that the player, who has two All Star awards to his name, has been the subject of controversy.

Donaghy was previously reprimanded in 2008, after he gave a provocative hand gesture to a section of the crowd, in response to almost being hit by an object thrown by a spectator.