TWO Offaly under-21 footballers have joined the Dublin contingent in appealing against the suspensions handed out to them by the Leinster Council two weeks ago.

Ivan Dunne and Stephen Byrne were substitutes when the teams clashed in the Leinster quarter-final at Parnell Park on March 15th. They were each handed two months for coming onto the field during the brawl that erupted near the end of the game. Both maintain that they entered the pitch to tend a stricken colleague.

The appeals will be heard by Central Council on the eve of annual Congress next Friday evening.

Dublin have decided to appeal all aspects of their suspensions, which were unprecedented in their severity. Forward Damien Bolger received a two-year ban while the team manager, Dave Billings, was banned for one year. Three substitutes each received six-month suspensions while another player received three months.

Dublin are also appealing against their expulsion from this year's competition - they were due to play Meath in the semi-final. Meath are scheduled to play Westmeath in the final on Sunday but that fixture now depends on the outcome of the appeal.

Dublin and Offaly have been banned from next year's under-21 championship.