Dubs to name suspended Connolly in team to play Mayo
As Dublin late last night made a case for him in front of the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) in Croke Park, the St Vincent’s man is likely to have been included by Jim Gavin in the 26-man match-day panel as he would not be permitted to be admitted as a late inclusion.
Speaking before yesterday’s meeting, Dublin chairman Sean Shanley said bringing Connolly’s case to the Disputes Resolution Authority was a strong consideration in the event the CAC rejected the appeal.
Already this year the current CAC have thrown out appeals by Clare and Limerick hurlers Brendan Bugler and Seanie Tobin.
As per a rule voted in at Congress earlier this year for championship panels, no additions are allowed to the Dublin squad which had to be forwarded to Croke Park before 9am yesterday morning.
At that stage, Connolly had his ban upheld by the Central Hearings Committee (CHC).
The only exception for an alteration after the deadline is an emergency substitute goalkeeper although in that there may exist a loophole to exploit.
Having heard evidence from Dublin and the Central Competitions Control Committee in Croke Park on Wednesday, the CHC found the county had failed to prove the player should not have been sent off.
The 28-year-old was shown a straight red card by referee Joe McQuillan after he consulted with linesman Conor Lane about a tussle between Connolly and Mayo defender Lee Keegan, who was yellow carded as a result.
Meanwhile, doubts remain about the fitness of Rory O’Carroll after he sustained a serious cut to his head in an incident involving Cillian O’Connor in the third minute last Sunday.
Johnny Cooper also took a knock to the shoulder while Alan Brogan looked shaken after colliding with Paul Flynn in the closing stages.
