GAA:Meath captain Stephen Bray has been ruled out of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC quarter-final with Mayo at Croke Park after his four-week ban for a straight red card was upheld by Central hearings Committee last night.
Bray was shown a straight red card during the second half of last weekend’s qualifier victory over Limerick. The infraction took place off the ball and was advised to referee Pádraig Hughes by one of his umpires in the 66th minute of the match.
Limerick’s mark O’Riordan and Sean Kiely both received yellow cards as a result of the incident. Bray picked up a yellow earlier in the game but was then shown a straight red.
Meath officials believed Bray only warranted a second yellow but it was difficult to prove without any video footage, but photographs were shown at last night’s hearing.
The 2007 All-Star still has two avenues of appeal, to the Central Appeals Committee and the Disputes Resolution Authority, the GAA’s independent tribunal.
Meath manager Eamon O'Brien has still to name his team for Sunday's game as he was awaiting the outcome of Bray’s hearing.