Painful push as Diarmuid Connolly cops 12-week ban

Diarmuid Connolly will find it “extremely difficult” to overturn his 12-week suspension following mention of his brush with linesman Ciarán Branagan in the referee’s report, according to Joe Brolly.

Dublin footballer Connolly is facing the prospect of no football until August 26 after the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee proposed a 12-week suspension after an altercation with Branagan during Saturday’s Leinster SFC quarter-final win over Carlow.

Connolly put his hand on the shoulder of the linesman in protest at having been surrounded by three Carlow players as he retrieved the ball for a sideline signalled by Branagan in Dublin’s favour.