Lynch succeeds in appeal bid

Star defender Anthony Lynch is eligible to play for Cork in tomorrow's Munster SFC final replay after surprisingly winning his appeal against suspension last night.

The Naomh Abán clubman, who was given a straight red card for elbowing Kerry's Kieran Donaghy 32 minutes into last week's drawn game, appealed against his four-week ban.

Lynch's suspension was ratified by the GAA's Central Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday.

But Cork County Board chairman Mick Dolan and secretary Frank Murphy accompanied the player to last night's Central Appeals Committee hearing, and had the ban wiped out.

It is understood that video evidence cleared the two-time All-Star as it showed that Lynch did not strike Donaghy and he was incorrectly banned on the basis of an erroneous referee's report.

With Lynch now available to face Kerry tomorrow, it is expected that he will resume his defensive duties at left half-back. Eoin Sexton should revert back to the substitutes bench.