GAA:Crossmaglen will have to plan for the All Ireland Club Championship final against Garrycastle without captain Stephen Kernan after his appeal against a red card in the semi-final against Dr Crokes was dismissed by the Central Hearings Committee (CHC).
Kernan was given a four-week suspension by the CHC, having been reported for “striking with the hand” during the match in Portlaoise on February 18th.
Though he contested his dismissal, the CHC found the “infraction alleged is more likely to have occurred than not to have occurred” and imposed a ban that would rule him out of the St Patrick’s Day showpiece.
Kernan can appeal the decision the Central Appeal’s Committee (CAC).
The Kildare County board, meanwhile, has been fined €5,000 after withdrawing its request for a hearing to contest a “disruptive conduct” (not causing the premature termination of a game) charge against Lilywhites players in the league game against Monaghan in Clones on February 12th.