Murray faces eight-week ban

CORK senior footballer Fionan Murray is facing an eight-week ban after being sent off in the NFL first round clash with Kerry on February 1 .

The St Finbarr’s clubman has been reported by referee Michael Monahan (Kildare) for abusive language towards him and that offence carries a two-month suspension.

Murray, who has requested a personal hearing, will be accompanied by Cork County Board chairman Jim Forbes to tonight’s meeting of the Games Administration Committee in Croke Park.

If he receives an eight-week ban, it would take effect from the date of his last game, against Roscommon on Sunday. He would not be eligible again until April 13.

That would rule him out of the remaining games in the NFL, but he would be back for the semi-final on April 20 should Cork qualify.

Meanwhile, the Datapac Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final between holders UL and Waterford IT, has been put back to next Tuesday, possibly at Ardfinnan at 2 pm.

If the second semi-final involves UCC and Cork IT, it will be played at a Cork venue the same day, with a 1.30pm throw-in. If it’s UCC and UCD they’ll meet in Portlaoise, at 2pm.

CIT and UCD meet in their postponed quarter-final tie at Belfield tomorrow at 2pm.

With the National Hurling League commencing on Sunday, all four colleges, who have most of their players involved, will be hoping they come through unscathed.