Donegal footballer handed 48-week ban for match incident

A DONEGAL GAA player has been suspended for a year following an incident in a Senior Football League match last June.

Harry Gallagher, from Glenswilly, was given a 48-week ban following an incident in a match between his club and Four Masters on June 26 in Glenswilly.

Donegal County Board set up an investigation after a number of Glenswilly players surrounded Four Masters official Paul Duncan, who was umpiring at the match. The incident arose after a decision made by the former county hurling star.

He ended up on the ground and was given medical aid from both clubs before being brought to Letterkenny General Hospital.

Donegal County Board held many during their detailed investigation.

Glenswilly are due to meet Bundoran in the quarter-final of the Donegal championship next weekend.

Meanwhile, defending champions Kilkenny have made one change from their Leinster final-winning side for Saturday’s All Ireland U-21 hurling semi-final against Galway in Portlaoise.

Former St Kieran’s College star Shane Hennessy comes in at full-forward. The man to lose out is Sean O’Neill, while Willie O’Dwyer has been moved to the corner to make way for Hennessy.

Kilkenny include three members of their senior squad. Tommy Walsh lines out at wing-back while Conor Phelan, who came on as a sub against Cork in last year’s senior final, has been picked at wing-forward. Phelan will line up beside his twin brother John on a line that is completed by the third senior player, James ‘Cha’ Fitzpatrick.

For their clash, in the other semi-final at the same venue on Saturday, Down have made one change from the side that defeated Derry in the Ulster final. Left corner-forward Jamesie Fowler is abroad on holidays and he will be replaced by Malachy Gilmore.

Garrett Johnston, a member of the senior team, has returned home from Chicago and is on the bench.

Centre-forward Brendan McGarrity and full-forward Eoin Clarke also played in the senior championship this season, while wing-back Matt Ennis and right half-forward Jonathon McCusker were members of the junior team that was defeated by Meath last weekend.

Both Laois and Kerry have delayed announcing their teams to contest Sunday’s All-Ireland MFC semi-final at Croke Park. Reigning champions Laois will reveal their starting fifteen tonight, while Kerry will name their side tomorrow.

KILKENNY (U21 HC v Galway): D. Herity; S. Maher, J. Tennyson, M. Fennelly; T. Walsh, PJ Delaney, C. Hoyne; R. Power, P. Cleere; C. Phelan, J. Phelan, J. Fitzpatrick; W. O’Dwyer, S. Hennessy, B. Dowling. Subs; N. Doherty, N. Moran, P. Holden, S. O’Neill, E. Reid, E. Larkin, E. Campion, J. Murphy, M. Heffernan.

DOWN (U21 HC v Tipperary): R. Murray; D. Coffey, J. Doherty, C. Branniff; C. Coulter, A. Dynes, M. Ennis; D. McCusker, D. Flynn; J. McCusker, B. McGarrity, G. Flynn; P. Smith, E. Clarke, M. Gilmore.