Matthew Fitzpatrick is free to play against Donegal on Sunday.
The Antrim footballer was earlier this week stung by a 48-week ban for giving “deliberately false evidence and deliberately [misleading] the hearing” earlier this month.
The draconian punishment related to a hearing following an altercation in Antrim’s final National League game against Armagh.
Having twice successfully contested a one-match ban for the Division 3 incident, Fitzpatrick was then slapped with a 48-week ban after the Central Hearing Committee ruled that he breached Rule 7.3 (aa) (4) of the GAA’s Official Guide.
The star forward is now free to line-out in Ballybofey after a late night hearing of the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) on Wednesday, where the services of a certain well-known GAA pundit were called upon.
A barrister by trade, Brolly gave a typically blunt assessment of the original ruling after confirming that the St Mary’s student’s ban had been overturned.
Matt Fitzpatrick's appeal upheld by CAC just now. Decision quashed. Free to play on Sunday. The law will set you free..
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) May 17, 2017
I can reveal that the case v Matt Fitzpatrick was thrown out on the well known legal basis that it was complete bollocks.
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) May 18, 2017
Antrim county board then confirmed the news on their own Twitter account.
See you on Sunday @officialdonegal 👌 #SupportTheSaffrons pic.twitter.com/LFKTHQDI14
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) May 17, 2017
