Donegal county board are expected to appeal the eight week side-line ban that has been given to Jim McGuinness by the Ulster council.
Having fielded Finbar Roarty, then 17, in Donegal’s McKenna Cup victory against Armagh, McGuinness was in breach of the GAA rule which states that, to play senior inter-county football, players must have turned 18 by the start of the calendar year.
This was not the case for Roarty, who only turned 18 on January 4.
The Ulster council investigated the breach and subsequently, following a meeting of Ulster council officials on Sunday night, hit McGuinness with his eight week sideline ban.
A former Donegal minor, Roarty has never played senior for his club Naomh Conaill but started the McKenna Cup game at corner back, with Donegal going onto win the game by 3-16 to 1-6.
Donegal followed up their win over Armagh with a 0-15 to 1-10 victory over Tyrone, which is expected to see them through to the weekend’s semi-finals, this despite the fact that they were docked the points from their win over Armagh.
Donegal are expected to appeal the ban which, as it stands, would impact on McGuinness for the first five games of Donegal’s upcoming Allianz National Football League campaign.
After the Tyrone match, McGuinness indicated to the BBC that he would be inclined to appeal a potential suspension.
“We can’t control the boardroom other than appeal, which everyone else in the GAA seems to do. We just have to wait to see what unfolds and we’ll deal with it then.”
Former Donegal footballer Eamon McGee, who’s brother Neil is a selector alongside McGuinness, hit out on X at the Ulster council’s ‘contempt for Donegal.’
“A suspension? Absolutely farcical,” he said, “and another example where Ulster Council just can’t hide their contempt for Donegal.”
A suspension? Absolutely farcical and another example where Ulster Council just can't hide their contempt for Donegal. https://t.co/SIbcrgXrM1
— Eamon Mc Gee (@EamonMcGee) January 8, 2024
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