'Meath five' to miss Wexford clash

Meath's Brendan Murphy, Seamus Kenny, Nigel Crawford, Niall McKeigue and Shane McAnarney will miss tomorrow's Leinster SFC quarter-final against Wexford at Dr Cullen Park.

Last night in Mullingar, the GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) upheld the ruling of the Central Appeals Committee (CAC), following suspensions handed out by the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) after a fracas during the Dublin v Meath NFL encounter on April 20.

Murphy, Kenny, Crawford, McKeigue and McAnarney all earned eight-week bans for their involvement in the off-the-ball incidents at Parnell Park last month.

The DRA hearing's decision was reached shortly before midnight last night, following a meeting at the Mullingar Park Hotel. All five players were in attendance.

Westmeath man Matt Shaw oversaw the case as regular DRA secretary Liam Keane, who is a Meath native, stepped aside temporarily in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

Meath manager Colm Coyle has understandably expressed his disappointment with the ruling.

The Royals had already been fined €10,000 for their involvement in the Parnell Park fracas.