NEWS ROUND-UP:THE DUBLIN management have indicated that Kilmacud Crokes defender Kevin Nolan will make his championship debut in tomorrow's Leinster football final against Wexford despite former captain Collie Moran having a four-week suspension and one-match ban "quashed" by the Disputes Resolution Authority.
Moran was banned following the decision of Armagh referee Padraig Hughes to upgrade his yellow card to red after viewing video evidence of a collision with Westmeath's Dermot Bannon in the Leinster semi-final on June 29th.
The reasons for the DRA decision were not available yesterday but the details of Monaghan footballer Paul Finlay's case were released.
Finlay saw his eight-week ban for abusing match referee Derek Fahy, in the Ulster quarter-final defeat to Fermanagh on May 25th, upheld.
Fahy's referee's report stated: "After this game I was walking off the pitch when I was approached by a Monaghan player number nine Paul Finlay: This player was shouting at me saying 'you blew me for a f.....g pick off the ground. I didn't pick the f.....g ball off the ground you f.....g tramp." On June 9th Finlay told the Central Appeals Committee that "I wish to emphatically state that I did not call the referee a f.....g tramp."
Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney was a corroborating witness.
The three-person DRA committee, chaired by Kerry solicitor Micheál O'Connell noted in its explanation: "It would seem fair to comment that, if the words reported were used, and especially if they were shouted at the referee as suggested, then it was open to the council or committee in charge to conclude that the words constituted 'abusive language towards a Referee' (an Infraction contrary to Rule 146(b) T. O. 2008) and no case is made to the contrary."
Despite questioning several other areas of the disciplinary process, Finlay will miss today's first round qualifier against Derry in Clones.
The DRA's next sitting is on Monday when they shall hear further evidence and submissions in the Paul Galvin case.
The Kerry captain is seeking to at least reduce the six-month ban he received for the now infamous slapping of the notebook out of referee Paddy Russell's hand on June 15th.
