Four-week ban rules McKeever out of qualifier

PADDY McKEEVER will miss the Orchard County’s fourth-round qualifier game after the Games Administration Committee handed the Armagh half-forward a four-week suspension.

McKeever was sent off in Armagh’s third-round victory over Dublin last Saturday for pushing opposing midfielder Darren Homan to the ground early in the second half. He received a straight red card for the offence.

This means that McKeever will not be available for selection until midnight on Friday, August 1, the weekend of the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Mayo’s Feargal Kelly has also been suspended for four weeks.

He was sent off in the Connacht SFC final against Galway on Sunday last, after a challenge on Seán Óg de Paor.

The draw for the fourth round of the Bank of Ireland Football Championship qualifiers will take place on Sunday evening, July 13, in Killarney.

The draw will be shown on RTÉ on the Sunday Game programme, which will feature live coverage of the Ulster and Munster Football finals, as well as a deferred showing of the entire Galway v Tipperary Guinness Hurling qualifier from Pearse Stadium.

An Coiste An Poc Fada Craobh na hÉireann have announced that the All- Ireland Poc Fada Hurling event, sponsored by M Donnelly & Co, Dublin and Ennis, will take place on Monday August 4.

Last year’s All-Ireland Poc Fada champion, Clare goalkeeper Davy Fitzgerald, will lead a field of ten hurlers over the testing 5km course on Annaverna Mountain.

Chairperson Peter Hoey said that he was once again this year looking forward to an entertaining feast of hurling strength. He appealed to all clubs and individuals in the Louth and Armagh areas to support the event.

Tyrone have made one enforced change for their fourth successive Ulster Minor Football Championship final appearance, when they take on a Fermanagh side, featuring in the decider for the first time in 33 years.

Attacker Patrick Early has been ruled out by a knee injury and his place goes to Raymond Mulgrew.

Fermanagh, who have never won a provincial minor title, have named a full-strength side.

Meanwhile, it is a busy weekend in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship.

In Munster this afternoon, Clare entertain Kerry in Cooraclare while Cork face Waterford in Pairc Ui Rinn at 5pm.

On Sunday, the action switches to Leinster, where Meath face Dublin in Dunsaney and Longford play Laois at Pierse Park.

Both games throw in at 3pm.

FERMANAGH: F Murphy, R Dolan P Johnston, S Flynn, K Ferguson, C Foy, D McAlynn, S O’Brien, N Tinney, N McGrath, P Gormley, P O’Brien, D Ward, T O’Flanagan, P Cadden.

TYRONE: D Tierney, M Murray, K Hackett, D Kelly, D Burke, P Marlowe, J McMahon, D Meenan, M Cunningham, R Gallen, R Mulgrew, E Laverty, B Hughes, M Murphy, D McDermott.