Brian Fenton suspended for Leinster quarter-final against Meath

Dublin midfielder handed one-match ban after straight red card arising from clash with Derry’s Eunan Mulholland

Brian Fenton was sent off after an incident with Derry’s Eunan Mulholland in the closing stages of the league decider at Croke Park last month. Photograph: Leah Scholes/Inpho
Brian Fenton was sent off after an incident with Derry’s Eunan Mulholland in the closing stages of the league decider at Croke Park last month. Photograph: Leah Scholes/Inpho

Dublin’s Brian Fenton will miss Sunday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final against Meath after the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) upheld his league final red card and imposed a one match suspension.

The midfielder was sent off after an incident with Derry’s Eunan Mulholland in the closing stages of the league decider at Croke Park last month. In the clash Fenton reacted to an aggressive tackle by Mulholland – with referee Conor Lane showing the Raheny clubman a straight red card.

The Central Competitions Control Committee proposed a one-match ban on the basis of a Category 3 offence, “behaving in any way which is dangerous to an opponent”.

Fenton sought a hearing on the sending off, but the CHC has found the infraction proven and imposed a one-match suspension, which means Dublin will be without their star midfielder for Sunday’s provincial quarter-final against Meath.

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The GAA confirmed disciplinary action had been taken: “One Match Suspension in the same Code and at the same Level, applicable to the next game in the combination of National League/Inter-County Senior Championship, even if that game occurs in the following year.”

Fenton has the option to take his case to the Central Appeals Committee, but it is thought unlikely the matter will be pursued further.

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times