Waterford manager Davy Fitzgerald. Photo: Piaras Ó Midheach/Sportfile
Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald was able to avoid another sanction for his confrontation with referee Liam Gordon after his side's Munster SHC defeat to Clare in Ennis on Sunday.
The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) met yesterday to discuss, among other things, the flare-up at Cusack Park and is expected to deliberate again today before imposing any proposed penalties.
A sanction for the Waterford manager (above) cannot be ruled out as the investigation is still ongoing, but tailoring his actions to a specific offense will be the most difficult part if a disciplinary case is to proceed.
The CCCC would require a report from the referee's report that Fitzgerald's words were offensive and that does not appear to be the case.
Fitzgerald's words of protest to Gordon as the Galway official came off the field appeared to have an inciting effect as members of both backroom teams angrily clashed.
It was an unseemly end to a match decided by a late '65' that Mark Rodgers converted.
The decision to award the '65', as a result of communications between Gordon and his officials, was ultimately the correct one, but was disputed by Waterford on the grounds that from their advantageous position they could not be sure. However, Fitzgerald may have raised a different issue.
Other backroom members could face sanctions based on an assessment of the available images.
Meanwhile, Mike Casey and Darragh O'Donovan are closing in on their respective returns for Limerick ahead of their clash with the Déise on Sunday.
Casey retired with a hamstring injury against Clare, while O'Donovan was out of all three Munster championship games with a calf injury.