Galway hurler Eugene Cloonan has become the latest player to suffer from the GAA's mandatory three-month suspension for striking. The talented Athenry marksman was dismissed for using the hurley on an opponent during an under-21 game between Athenry and Castlegar and his own county hurling board banned him.

Galway's late championship start - they contest the Connacht final against Roscommon on July 8th - means that Cloonan will not miss any of the county's campaign, as his suspension runs out the night before this match.

However, the ban means he will miss tomorrow's National League semi-final and the final if Galway reach it.

It was also announced yesterday that the rule changes approved at Congress earlier this month will apply during the forthcoming championship.

Hence, managers will be free to use five substitutes in all games in the senior football and hurling championships. The use of the yellow and red disciplinary carding system and the 35-minute halves will now be accepted as permanent rules.

The Central Referees Appointments committee also ruled that a referee who officiate a match which concludes in a draw will not be considered for the replay.

This will cover both the hurling and football championships and the knock-out stages of all senior league games.

The Games Administration Committee has also reiterated the organisation's intention to firmly eradicate the spectre of indiscipline.

The GAC have issued a warning to the effect that "off-the-ball" incidents will not be tolerated and highlighted their decision to hold culpable any third party who contributes or exacerbates an altercation between two players.

Any third player who makes himself a part of a row will "be liable to a heavy suspension" the GAC asserts.

At last night's meeting of the GAC in Croke Park, a number of suspensions were also decided upon. Michael O'Neill of Wicklow and Kildare's Paudie Reidy each receive 12 weeks arising from an incident during their NHL game on April 8th.

London's Fergal Horgan has been given a four-week suspension after being dismissed during a league game on April 2nd and Donnacha Dowling of Laois also gets a month.

Dublin's Sean Power has been suspended for four months for a charge arising from a match on April 18th and Louth's Nicky Malone has been give a two-week suspension.