Carton's eligibility queried

All-Ireland Under-21HC Semi-final: A query concerning the eligibility of Dublin hurler Peadar Carton ahead of this evening's All-Ireland under-21 semi-final with Derry is believed to have been before last night's meeting of the GAA's Management Committee.

Carton was suspended for eight weeks in respect of a serious foul on Tipperary's Paul Curran, which broke the player's jaw. Last week the GAA announced Carton's appeal to the Central Appeals Committee had been successful on a technical point and that the matter had been referred back for reconsideration. It has since emerged no such follow-up has taken place and as a consequence Carton was included in the Dublin team for today's All-Ireland semi-final.

Croke Park sources were unable to disclose who had asked for clarification on the player's eligibility but it has been established that a meeting of the Central Hearings Committee, scheduled for last night, did not have the Carton case on its agenda.

Because the player's suspension arose from a proposal by the Central Competitions Control Committee, imposed by the CHC, it would appear the decision of the CAC to allow his appeal clears the player for this evening.

The grounds of appeal were two-fold: that the CCCC had not taken the decision collectively because there had been no meeting convened - just the circulation by email of the video clip of Carton's foul followed by individual conclusions and secondly that CCCC member Michael O'Brien from Tipperary had been on the email list although committee sources say he took no part in the decision to propose a suspension. Dublin furthermore believe the flaws in the suspension add up to more than a minor technicality and that Carton cannot now be resubmitted to the process, as that would constitute double jeopardy.

There will be concern at the CAC decision of last week because it appears to require the CCCC to meet in person before reaching conclusions, a requirement that would militate against speedy processing of cases.

The relevance of the CCCC is questionable given once Carton opted to contest the proposed suspension, the CHC gave the matter a full hearing and imposed the eight-week suspension and the matter may end up going to the Disputes Resolution Authority.

The inaction of the last week despite the imminence of Dublin's match is an embarrassment for the GAA, which this week expressed satisfaction at the lower number of straight red cards in championship matches.

Ross Carr has been reappointed for a second term as Down football manager. The Down County Committee confirmed the reappointment at its monthly meeting.

Dublin v Derry Páirc Esler, Newry Kick-off: 6.0.