News round-up: Kerry captain Paul Galvin has received the full backing of his county board as he prepares to take his appeal against the six-month ban received yesterday to the GAA's Central Hearings Committee.
Galvin, who was starting his first match as captain on Sunday when he got involved in an incident with referee Paddy Russell, is set to miss the entire championship campaign.
And while the player himself has since admitted his actions were "out of order" the Kerry county board believes the punishment to be "excessive".
"Paul will be seeking a hearing at the earliest opportunity," read a statement released last night. "Coiste Chontae Chiarraí fully supports our captain in this action.
"The proposed 24-week suspension will rule Paul out of inter-county and club activity for hurling and football for the rest of the year.
"In the circumstances we feel that the proposed suspension is excessive."
Kerry manager Pat O'Shea must also contend without Declan O'Sullivan for an extended period after the forward underwent an operation on a knee injury this morning.
O'Sullivan sustained ligament damage during the match against Clare and is expected to be out for a minimum of eight weeks.
Meanwhile, Fermanagh boss Malachy O'Rourke has kept faith with the same starting line-up for Saturday's Ulster semi-final against Derry.
While Derry have a number of injury concerns, with John Deighan and Sean Martin Lockhart the latest casualties not to mention Fergal Doherty's suspension, O'Rourke had the luxury of selecting from a full deck.
Sligo manager Tommy Jordan has also opted to name an unchanged side for his side's Connacht meeting with Mayo.
Captain Noel McGuire remains sidelined with an elbow injury while Michael McGowan Gerry McGowan and Kevin Byrne come into the matchday squad.
Elsewhere, the GAA announced today that the draw for the All-Ireland football and hurling qualifiers will be made on Sunday week. The names will be picked out of the hat at 6pm live on TV3.
Fermanagh (SF v Derry): R Gallagher, S Goan, H Brady, P Sherry, D Kelly, R McCluskey, T McElroy, M McGrath , M Murphy, C McElroy, J Sherry, R Keenan, E Maguire, L McBarron, M Little.
Sligo (SF v Mayo): P Greene; C Harrison, P Naughton, R Donovan; P McGovern, M McNamara, E McHugh; E O'Hara, K Quinn; B Curran, B Egan, J Davey; G Gaughan, M Breheny, D Kelly.