Graham Geraghty's intercounty career appears to be over after it was confirmed he is no longer part of the Meath football panel following a training ground incident at the weekend.
Meath selector Dudley Farrell was not willing to elaborate on the matter, other than to say Geraghty has been excluded from plans: "Yes, (due to) a breech of discipline at training, Graham is not with us anymore. I can't give any other comment."
Geraghty was involved in an incident with a 19-year-old team-mate during training at Simonstown Gaels GAA club, when he was believed to have reacted angrily to a tackle.
The departure of the 1999 All-Ireland winning captain looks like a disappointing end to a decorated, albeit chequered, career that includes two All Star awards (1994 and 1999), two senior All-Irelands (1996 and 1999) and three Leinster titles, along with minor and under-21 All-Ireland medals.
Geraghty also represented Ireland in the International Rules series five times, and the versatile athlete had trials with Arsenal as a teenager and played rugby for Buccaneers RFC after temporarily retiring from Gaelic football in 2002.
The 34-year-old has been involved in several disciplinary infractions. The most notable was a 48-week suspension following an incident playing for his club Seneschalstown in 2003 that was eventually overturned on appeal, but only after he had served 35 weeks.
Four years earlier, Geraghty was banned from the first Test of the International Rules series in Australia after racially abusing AFL Academy player Damien Cupido during Ireland's warm-up game.
He was again under the spotlight this summer when television replays caught him twice punching Dublin defender David Henry. The Meath publican ran for Fine Gael in Meath West in the recent general election, but failed to gain a seat.
Meath are now without the services of two established forwards for the first-round qualifier against Down in Newry this Saturday, as Joe Sheridan opted out of the panel last week, citing an inability to meet the demands of an intercounty player.
"We hate to lose any guys, but Joe felt he didn't have the bite any more," said Farrell. "The door is still open for Joe. The lads are quite focused and this won't unsettle them unduly."
A team will be selected tomorrow night, with Anthony Moyles expected to be switched to centre forward while Kevin Reilly moves back to the defence. Séamus Kenny is in contention for a recall after recovering from a hamstring injury.
Wexford hurling's veteran full back Declan Ruth will remain in the panel despite his early departure from Croke Park on Sunday. Ruth was replaced after 13 minutes of the Leinster final, and reports on RTÉ's the Sunday Game stated he immediately left the stadium.
Meanwhile, with Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly still unable to line out for the Sydney Swans due to a knee injury, three other Irishmen are forging ahead with their AFL careers.
Most notably, former Down minor footballer Martin Clarke followed on last week's debut with another scoring contribution in Collingwood's 95-87 defeat to Hawthorn in front of a 50,248 crowd at the Telstra Dome last Sunday.
Still only 19, Clarke registered impressive statistics including three goals, 13 kicks, six handballs, 19 disposals and six marks.
Former Cork hurler Setanta Ó hÁilpín continued to establish himself in the Carlton Blues defence with a fourth goal in as many games despite another defeat against Fremantle.
Laois native Colm Begley was also on the scoresheet in the Brisbane Lions' 112-105 loss to Port Adelaide at the Gabba.
