Dan Shanahan’s ‘Jim Gavin-like’ comments on Stephen Bennett’s suspension smack of desperation

A very recent trend has emerged in the GAA of managers blaming The Sunday Game if their player gets suspended. The case of Stephen Bennett is no different.

Waterford selector Dan Shanahan has joined the Jim Gavin brigade in blaming RTÉ flagship GAA highlights show for Stephen Bennett receiving a suspension, which was entirely in line with the rules of the GAA. Bennett was hit with a one-match ban on Friday by the CCCC after his blatant tugging of Damian Cahalane's helmet in the Déise's Munster semi-final loss to Cork in Semple Stadium on 18 June. Waterford's half forward was cited for a category III (iv) infraction, which includes 'behaving in any way which is dangerous to an opponent, including deliberately pulling on or taking hold of a faceguard or any part of an opponent’s helmet.' Shanahan has claimed that the 21-year-old would probably not have received a ban were it not for The Sunday Game highlighting the incident on the night of the match. "I heard Jim Gavin on the radio talking about the CCCC and I don't know if Stephen would have been penalised if it wasn't highlighted on the Sunday Game, to be honest with you," said Shanahan to the Waterford News and Star. "We'll take it on the chin. Some other lad will come in and do the job and hopefully, we'll have Stephen back for the next day," continued the Lismore man. Hold on a second now Dan, the GAA have rules for a reason. If these rules are breached, as they so obviously were by Stephen Bennett, the GAA are obviously going to act on these rules and provide the player with the respective punishment for his actions. Bennett is the reason Waterford have to "take it on the chin," not The Sunday Game. Bennett's infringement of the rules was missed by referee Barry Kelly on the day, but you can be guaranteed that if he had seen Bennett's act, the Waterford man would've received a red card there and then. https://twitter.com/Darth_Cody/status/878186014161895425 Bennett's faceguard tug was picked up by the cameras and was shown to RTÉ's audience in the moments after his act of madness. It was clear from that moment onwards that Bennett was destined for a ban, and that he would've been given his marching orders had the referee or linesman spotted him. Contrary to Shanahan's opinion, The Sunday Game's analysis of the incident that night had absolutely no bearing on the CCCC's decision to issue the Waterford man with his punishment. Had the CCCC not acted on Bennett's blatant breaching of the rule, then the GAA would have been questioned, and rightly so, as to why they have any rules in the first place. They would have looked like total hypocrites if Bennett had got away with his indiscretion. The GAA have rules for a reason. The chairman of the GAA’s medical, scientific and welfare committee Ger Ryan claimed in 2014 that the rule was introduced in order to prevent brain injury. "We feel the rule is necessary. The rule was recommended to address the risk of serious injury and in particular, contrecoup type injuries. The advice from the medical people on our committee was that interference with a helmet could potentially cause contrecoup," said Ryan to the Irish Examiner. Interference with a player's helmet is a dangerous act, especially when pulled in an aggressive manner. Stephen Bennett's indiscretion couldn't in any way have been more related to the above rule. The Ballysaggart club man, obviously frustrated with how the game was going for him, and for his team, came up from behind Cahalane, tugged his faceguard in an aggressive manner while swinging his hurl at the Cork man. It was as clear as day then, and it's as clear as day now, that his actions warranted a ban. We've seen this rule being applied on occasions in the past, for example when Podge Collins was sent off against Wexford in 2014 for a similar infringement. Collins' infringement wasn't as aggressive as Bennett's and the Clare man served his ban. Take your punishment lads.