A THREE MONTH ban for Armagh full back Ger Reid was among five suspensions meted out by the GAA's Games Administration Committee at its meeting on Wednesday night.
None of the bans relate to the All Ireland final replay. All suspensions arise from last month's tempestuous All Ireland football `B' championship clash between Armagh and Louth in Drogheda.
Apart from Reid's three month penalty, which will keep him out of football until the League resumes in February, his teammate and half back Kieran McGeeney has been given a one month ban, while three Louth forwards, Stefan White, Colin Kelly and Alan Rooney, were also suspended for one month.
The teams meet again, this time in the opening round of the National Football League Division Two at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh on Sunday and all five players who were sent off in Drogheda will, of course, miss the match.
The GAC is to convene "within a fortnight" to continue with its investigations into the All Ireland replay fracas. Association PRO Danny Lynch confirmed that Wednesday night's meeting had gone into the early hours of Thursday morning. "The committee is being consistent in its policy not to give details of a meeting for publication until after individuals are informed first," said Lynch. This suggests that there are notifications in the post for individuals to come before the committee.
Meanwhile, David O'Hare, who captained Coleraine to First Division success in the Irish soccer league last season, has transferred his allegiance to Brian Mullins's Derry and has been included in the squad for Sunday's match against Tyrone.
O'Hare is quite an accomplished Gaelic footballer. He figured in midfield for the University of Ulster Coleraine team that shocked Queen's University in the Sigerson Cup last term. Jonathan Kelly is the number one choice to start in goal.
Among the newcomers to start for Derry are the McGuckin brothers, Adrian and Ronan, both sons of Adrian senior.
Meanwhile, two players will take part in their first competitive game for Kildare when the National League campaign gets under way on Sunday with a home tie against Kerry at Newbridge.
Killian Brennan replaces Niall Buckley at midfield in a side which sees many changes to the team defeated by Laois in the opening round of the Leinster championship last June.
Recently crowned county champions, Round Towers, provide Derek Maher, who replaces Fergus Aspell in the half back line. Elsewhere, Declan Kerrigan leads the attack instead of Den is O'Connell and will be flanked by the similarly recalled Tom Harris at left half forward.
Johnny McDonald, injured during the summer will play at corner forward. Brian Fahy, another injury victim, has also returned and will play at corner back.
Mayo show five changes from the team that lost out in the AllIreland final replay.
