The Laois minor footballers, suspended as a result of the melee which took place in the All-Ireland quarter-final against Cork on July 31st, are to appeal to Central Council this Saturday.
Five from the midlands county, along with three Cork players, were handed bans ranging from eight to 12 weeks by the Games Administration Committee. Also, Cork selector Keith Ricken was suspended from involvement with any team for 48 weeks.
Considering Laois beat Cork in last Sunday's rescheduled fixture (1-10 to 0-6) and that only three of their players are in the current panel - two were part of the development squad - they are keen to seek exoneration ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland minor semi-final against Kerry in Croke Park.
Midfielder Brendan Quigley and goalkeeper Eoin Culliton both received 12-week bans so they would need a reduction to even be available for the All-Ireland final on September 26th.
As it stands, replacement Mark Delaney's eight-week ban would end 24 hours before that match.
The disciplinary hearings of two other players (Laois' Donal Brennan and Cork's Kevin Canty), who were also allegedly involved in the incident, were postponed last Saturday allowing both to play in the match at Thurles. A rescheduled hearing has yet to be announced so Brennan is still free to play this weekend.
Laois have named an unchanged line-up ahead of the Sunday's game so the goalscorer against Cork, Ian Fleming, remains at corner forward with Michael Tierney leading the attack. However, a doubt remains over midfielder Enda Butler's fitness.
Kerry select their team today.
Meanwhile, Kilkenny named a star-studded under-21 team ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final against Galway on Saturday. Led by James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, the side contains senior sensation Tommy Walsh as well as Conor Phelan and last year's minor captain Richie Power.
At senior level, Derry, Mayo and Fermanagh all finalise their line-ups this evening with Mayo and Fermanagh reporting clean bills of health ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final replay this Saturday.
Mickey Moran is expected to name a settled Derry side for the mammoth challenge of Kerry in this Sunday's All-Ireland football semi-final. Significantly, all the injury concerns came through last night's session.
Francis McEldowney has recovered from the back strain he sustained in the quarter-final victory over Westmeath, Paddy Bradley is nearing peak condition after heal damage, while captain Seán Marty Lockhart should start his second championship match this season.
Limerick football manager Liam Kearns is expected to make a decision early next week about the remaining year on his contract. The Kerryman has been linked with the Galway job vacated by John O'Mahony last month.
Nomination slips went out to the Galway clubs this week but Kearns has been widely tipped as the favourite to succeed the two time All-Ireland winning manager.
There is also plenty of speculation about who will be the new Longford manager with interviews to begin in the coming weeks.
Several high profile names have been bandied about including O'Mahony's, former Fermanagh manager Dominic Corrigan, Paul O'Kelly (previously of Offaly) and current Carlow caretaker boss Luke Dempsey.
LAOIS (MF v Kerry): C Munnelly; C Healy, M Timmons, B Meredith; K Smith, C Begley, N Donagher; E Butler, C Rogers; S O'Neill, M Tierney, S O'Leary; I Fleming, D Brennan, D Conway.
KILKENNY (U-21H v Galway): D Hearty; S Maher, J Tennyson, M Fennelly; T Walsh, PJ Delaney, C Hoyne; R Power, P Cleere; C Phelan, J Phelan, J Fitzpatrick; W O'Dwyer, S Hennessy, B Dowling.
GALWAY (U-21H v Kilkenny): P Doolagher; D Hayes, S Kavanagh, D Collins; E Lynch, T Óg Regan, K Hayes; C Ryan, T Tierney; G Farragher, A Garvey, J Gantley; A Callinan, D Burke, N Healy.
