Morgan's 24-week ban is confirmed

Cork football manager Billy Morgan has been suspended for six months by the GAA

Cork football manager Billy Morgan has been suspended for six months by the GAA. The suspension was confirmed by the Central Hearings Committee on Thursday night after a personal appearance by Morgan to contest the 24-week ban, as proposed by the Central Competitions Control Committee.

The incident at the heart of the disciplinary action was a series of exchanges between the Cork manager and Sligo linesman Marty Duffy during last month's All-Ireland final defeat by Kerry. Duffy had also refereed the Munster final between the counties in July.

There was no immediate indication whether Morgan or the Cork County Board would appeal the suspension to the Central Appeals Committee.

Meanwhile, Frankie Dolan, one of the leading lights for St Brigid's when they won last year's Connacht club title, is expected to rejoin the Roscommon panel tomorrow.

READ SOME MORE

Manager John Maughan confirmed Dolan had been asked to join the panel. He was dropped by previous manager Tommy Carr, and wasn't included in Maughan's panel when he took over two seasons ago.

"We've invited Frankie back into the panel, and he has agreed, along with many others, including some of the minor squad of two years ago. We will have nine or 10 new faces in the squad," said Maughan.

"Our panel is open-ended and our situation has been that any player who is playing well in Roscommon, no matter who he is, deserves inclusion. He has been playing well for his club and that's why he invited him in."

"I'm very pleased to be going back," said Dolan. "There are only so many years you can play Gaelic football. The last time I played was when I came on against Mayo in the 2005 Connacht championship . . . . I talked to John Maughan this week, he asked me if I would be interested in rejoining the panel. It was short and sweet."

Seán Moran

Seán Moran

Seán Moran is GAA Correspondent of The Irish Times