Bradley free to play for Derry

Derry manager Paddy Crozier will be able to call upon the services of Paddy Bradley for Sunday's Ulster SFC clash with Antrim, after the star forward had his suspension put on hold.

Bradley was banned last month for an alleged 'minor physical interference' with a referee when he was playing for his club Glenullin against Loup.

Handed a 12-week ban, Bradley subsequently had two appeals against his suspension turned down by the Derry County Board and the Ulster Council.

With time running out before the Derry-Antrim encounter, Bradley took his case to the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority last night.

And in a considerable boost for the Oak Leaf footballers, the DRA ruled that the suspension procedure, with regards to Bradley's ban, had not been carried out fairly.

The DRA have referred the case back to the Derry Hearing Committee.

In a statement released this morning, the DRA confirmed: "At a hearing last night in Monaghan, a DRA tribunal found that the suspension imposed on Paddy Bradley by the Derry Hearings Committee was done in breach of fair procedures and referred the matter back to them for re-hearing.

"The tribunal put a stay on the operation of the suspension pending the re-hearing."

With the Glenullin clubman's suspension put on hold, he is available for selection for this weekend's Casement Park tie.

It remains to be seen however if Crozier will start Bradley against Antrim, given that the forward, who was one of the top scorers in the 2006 All-Ireland championship with 2-20, has not trained with the Derry panel since his suspension began.

Crozier is definitely without injured duo Ruairi Murray (groin) and Ryan McElhone (knee) for Sunday's game.