Donegal's Roper named for Garden County test

Donegal half forward Brian Roper will play in Sunday's All-Ireland footballer qualifier against Wicklow in Aughrim.

Having been sent off in this spring's National League and last Saturday, against Armagh in the Ulster SFC semi-final replay, it had been thought that Roper would be suspended for Donegal's visit to Wicklow.

However, a new rule introduced this season has allowed him to line out. Roper was dismissed in the league for one yellow card and last weekend for two.

Up until this year, the rules stated that any player who received two yellow cards twice within 48 weeks of one another would have to serve a two game suspension. However, because Roper was dismissed for one yellow card in the league game, he will not come under suspension.

Sunday will see the first ever championship clash between Donegal and Wicklow. Brian McEniff's men will be looking to build a qualifying run similar to their 2003 charge when they accounted for Longford, Sligo, Down, Tipperary and Galway on the way to the All-Ireland semi-finals.