Derry manager Eamonn Coleman will have to plan for Sunday's Ulster football semi-final against Antrim without forward Geoffrey McGonigle, who will be absent for two months following Croke Park's weekend declaration that he must serve the mandatory suspension for verbal abuse of an official.

The Derry county board had exonerated the Dungiven man at a meeting last Thursday evening but the Croke Park directive overruled that. McGonigle was cited in the referee's report for verbal abuse late in a club match which saw Swatragh's Anthony Tohill score the defining goal late into injury time.

"There was no question of any ethical compromise on the part of the county board in exonerating the player. It comes down to a matter of interpretation - if the official construes the verbal exchange as abusive and he cites the player for such in his report, there is an automatic two months suspension. So we can't question it and to put it like this, if the Derry team has an opportunity to call on Geoffrey again this summer, we'll be happy enough," offered PRO Gerry Donnelly.

As the county's most celebrated dual player, McGonigle was expected to participate in Derry's facile Ulster hurling semi-final win over Down on Sunday until word of the Croke Park veto filtered through.

"I was speaking to him at the match and while he was making a good effort to remain upbeat, he was understandably disappointed. It's the worst time of year for this to happen. The pity is that Geoffrey is a clean player and the punishment seems severe when you consider that there are often occasions when players strike out and are back playing just weeks later."

Although not a regular in Coleman's first-team selection, McGonigle nonetheless formed an integral part of his plans. An invaluable substitute, he played for most of Derry's impressive championship win against Cavan and also featured in the league final replay win over Meath. His most famous cameo was in the Ulster final two years ago when he came on with minutes to go and laid on a pass for Joe Brolly which turned the game.

Meanwhile, Galway are now confident that full forward Pauric Joyce will have recovered in time for the Connacht semi-final date with Sligo on July 9th.

The team captain was stretchered off after finding himself on the receiving end of a wild kick by New York defender Keith Murray. Although the prognosis was initially grave, it is felt that Joyce will make a full recovery after a short rest period.

A lot more worrying for Galway is the fate of wing back Sean Og de Paor who was sent off after an incident similar to that which incapacitated Joyce. However, while de Paor did make contact with an opposing player, he appeared to be drawing for a loose ball. The Galway management face an anxious wait to see if the referee cites the Ceathra Rua player for striking with the boot, which could see him miss the remainder of the provincial campaign.

"We will just have to wait and see," said football PRO John Power. "It's terribly unfortunate because I think that Sean is known far and wide for being a fair and clean competitor and he has an excellent disciplinary record," he added. Fermanagh's celebrations of their historic championship win over Donegal at Ballybofey have been tempered somewhat by the news that flying attacker Rory Gallagher faces a race to recover fitness ahead of their semi-final clash with Armagh in a fortnight.

Gallagher, enjoying his most consistent season after an early career blighted by injury, pulled up lame in the second-half of Sunday's match after compiling a personal tally of 1-6.

"We will be taking him to see a specialist and the only thing we can say with certainty right now is that it is not a repeat of the cruciate ligament. Possibly a cartilage injury but it is too early to say," said Fermanagh secretary Paddy Donnelly.

Gallagher had balanced his league duties with his Irish League soccer appearances with Portadown.

"He had remained injury free throughout but playing so much sport can lead to wear and tear," offered Donnelly. "But he is really on form at the moment and to lose him now would be a huge blow for Fermanagh and also tough on Rory himself."

Meanwhile, Donegal county board will begin the process of seeking a replacement for Declan Bonner, who resigned following that Fermanagh win, over the coming days.

"We will meet later in the week to discuss it and set the process in motion from there," said Donegal chairman John McConnell, who added that he would prefer to see a new management team in place earlier rather than later.

While the name of Martin McHugh has been linked with the post, it remains unclear as to whether he would be in a position to accept it if offered. However, the chances are that Bonner's successor will be from within the county.

"We have traditionally looked within the county for candidates and we will probably seek to do that again this time round," said McConnell.

Antrim goalkeeper Sean McCreevy was yesterday presented with the Eircell Player of the Month for May. His penalty save against Down's Greg McCartan was the highlight of a performance which was central to Antrim's historic Ulster championship win. McCreevy will be in action again against Derry on Sunday.