Down's football championship bid has been enhanced by the lifting of playing bans on All-Ireland medallists Paul Higgins and Gregory McCartan. It was part of last night's Central Council meeting at Congress which approved the recommendations of the Reinstatements (Mercy) Committee and lifted or reduced the suspensions on several inter-county players.

The Down pair were joined by Lesley McGettigan, Ollie Reid, Danny Gallagher (Donegal), and Rory Moen and Martin Slowey (Monaghan). All these players had been suspended for offences related to inadequate transfers to the US.

Seamus O'Brien, the Waterford delegate, expressed reservations about the numbers availing of the appeals procedure in the light of Director General Liam Mulvihill's comment in his annual report on the subject of indiscipline.

In response it was pointed out that the offences were technical, relating to registration rather than violent conduct. All suspensions relating to the latter were confirmed, including that on Padraig Feeney, the Roscommon hurling full back, whose foul on Joe Rabbitte left the Galwayman with a serious head injury.

Other business transacted included the new workshop sessions held yesterday afternoon. The chairmen of two such groups reported back in the evening and there was widespread praise for the innovation. It was estimated that around 200 delegates had contributed to discussions, a far higher figure than would be the case in the formal main-hall format.

Nicky Brennan, chairman of the group considering Liam Mulvihill's report, made a concise presentation on the matters raised.