Finlay loses DRA appeal

Monaghan footballer Paul Finlay has lost his case to the DRA (Disputes Resolution Authority), after the Ballybay player failed to have his appeal against an eight-week suspension overturned.

Finlay was banned following an incident during Monaghan's 2-08 to 0-10 loss to Fermanagh in the GAA Ulster senior football championship at Enniskillen on May 25.

Finlay was reported by Longford referee Derek Fahy for verbal abuse after he became enraged by a decision which went against him and from which Fermanagh's Ciaran McElroy scored a vital second goal in the 54th-minute.

A vacancy had been left for Finlay in Monaghan's list of substitutes for tomorrow's All-Ireland first round qualifier against Derry.

However, he will now not be available for the Farney county for the rest of the summer unless they advance to the latter stages of the championship.