DCU players have bans lifted

DUBLIN City University’s Sigerson Cup hopes were boosted late on Tuesday night when the appeals lodged by their four suspended players proved successful.

The Central Appeals Committee of the GAA heard appeals on Tuesday from inter-county stars Dessie Dolan of Westmeath, Diarmuid Kinsella of Wexford, Ross Munnelly of Laois and Dublin’s Shane Ryan against 12-week suspensions imposed by the Higher Education Council for playing with DCU allegedly in contravention of Higher Education Council Rules.

The CAC upheld the appeals from the four players on a technicality related to the Education Council’s by-laws. It is understood that the rule under which the four were originally suspended does not come into force until next year. The four players are now free to play for DCU in the O’Byrne Shield and for their respective counties in the forthcoming National League, which begins on February 4.