Former football All Star Ross Carr, who was sent off last November in Down's final league match before the two-month winter break, will discover tonight if he is able to assist his county in Sunday's resumption of the Church and General National Football League campaign.
Carr was reported by referee Mickey Brady for "striking with the hand" when dismissed in the match with Sligo on November 28th. He requested a personal hearing in front of the Games Administration Committee. Under the new disciplinary rules, the December-January close season doesn't count in terms of any suspension so, unless Carr is handed the minimum two-weeks ban, which would finish at midnight on Saturday, he will miss Sunday's game with Meath in Pairc Tailteann. A one-month suspension would mean Carr's unavailability for the Meath game but he would be eligible again for the encounter with Fermanagh in two weeks time. A three-month ban would rule him of Down's remaining league games. Down manager Pete McGrath has delayed team selection until after the player's fate is determined.
Dublin manager Tom Carr won't have any of his Na Fianna contingent available for their trip to Roscommon. Dessie Farrell, Jason Sherlock and Tomo Lynch have been excused from intercounty duty in advance of their All-Ireland club semi-final with Crossmolina on Sunday week but Ian Robertson, who missed the opening matches of the league campaign with a knee injury, could make a return to the team providing he emerges safely from DCU's Sigerson Cup match with UCD at Glasnevin today. The Dublin team will be announced after training tomorrow night.
Forward Bernard Butler, who is ruled out with an ankle injury, definitely misses out for Roscommon.
Galway manager John O'Mahony finalises his side tomorrow but the squad has been boosted by the return to training of Sean de Paor and Kevin Walsh. Six Galway players are involved in Sigerson Cup action today which is why the Division 1A table-toppers have deferred selection for the game with bottom-of-the-table Cork.
Armagh colleagues Oisin McConville and Kieran McGeeney are among the eight winners in the AIB GAA Club Championship Provincial Players' Awards. McConville, a winner of the inaugural award in 1997, is the Ulster winner for his contribution to Crossmaglen Rangers's successful defence of the provincial crown. All Star McGeeney earns the Leinster award for his role in Dublin club Na Fianna's first-ever provincial success. The other football winners were Crossmolina's Barry Heffernan in Connacht and UCC's Paul Galvin in Munster.
Birr's Brian Whelahan has been named as winner of the hurling award in Leinster, while St Joseph's wing-back David Hoey (Munster), Athenry's Eugene Cloonan (Connacht) and Cushendall's John Carson (Ulster) took the other awards.
Meanwhile Athenry have called Aidan Roynard into the half-forward line for the All-Ireland club hurling semi-final encounter with Birr at Thurles on Sunday. He replaces Donal Moran who is rules out with a knee injury. However, wing back Brian Higgins has recovered from his hand injury and is able to line out.
Clare star Ollie Baker looks set to defy a facial injury to line out with St Joseph's Doora/Barefield in their semi-final meeting with Cushendall at Parnell ark. Team captain Lorcan Hassett is expected to the side after suspension.
