Forde is hit with lengthy ban

The GAA's Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC) yesterday released a lengthy list of suspensions arising from recent games in the national leagues.

Although most are the standard four-week suspension for straight red cards, Cavan footballer Anthony Forde was handed a 12-week ban having been sent off in the victory over Sligo on March 12th.

Forde was shown a straight red card three minutes before half-time in the Division Two B match, with manager Martin McElkennon afterwards announcing his dissatisfaction with the decision.

Yet it means the centre back will be out of action until June 4th, thus missing Cavan's preliminary-round game in the Ulster football championship against Down on May 7th - although Forde would return just in time for the quarter-final against Donegal on June 4th should they progress.

The other football suspensions were Liam Keenan (Longford) four weeks; Aidan Higgins (Mayo) four weeks; Declan O'Reilly (Longford) four weeks; Alan Kelly (Carlow) four weeks; Noel Doonan (Leitrim) four weeks; Brian Farrell (Meath) four weeks; Niall Murphy (Wexford) two weeks.

In hurling, there were suspensions for Gary Doran (Wicklow) four weeks; Damien Roberts (Carlow) two weeks; Philip Gilsenan (Westmeath) four weeks; Geoffrey Bermingham (Wicklow) four weeks.

The GAA yesterday announced details of the second International Féile Peil, to be staged in Birmingham from April 21st to 23rd. The largest GAA youth festival in Britain, it will see over 450 children and 40 teams taking part in 128 games over the tournament, which is open to boys and girls.

The project is the latest in a number of initiatives being undertaken by the GAA's overseas committee in an attempt to develop Gaelic games outside of Ireland. At present it is estimated there are approximately 30,000 adult and 7,000 juvenile players playing hurling and football outside of Ireland in 350 clubs.

County boards and clubs are now affiliated in all of the continents and there are active games development programmes in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, North America, Asia and Europe, with the association's annual games development expenditure on overseas projects now in the region of €500,000.

The GAA's management committee recently confirmed funding for a full-time secretary in Australia, with 61 clubs currently affiliated in Australia and New Zealand. A full-time games promotion officer has been appointed in Britain (Yvonne Morley).

It has been confirmed that Croke Park will have a second giant TV screen in operation in time for the National Football League final on April 23rd.

The new screen is being assembled at the corner of the ground where the Hogan Stand meets the newly-named Davin Stand (formerly Canal End).

The screen will then be suspended from the roof of the stand, thus ensuring a clear view for the majority of spectators in the stadium. A second screen at the Hill 16 end - which is the largest in Europe - has been operating since last year.