McEntee available for Ulster final replay

John McEntee will be free to play for Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers in Sunday's Ulster Club SFC final replay against Ballinderry Shamrocks after successfully appealing his sending-off in the drawn game.

In the closing stages of the 1-10 to 1-10 draw at Brewster Park, McEntee was given a straight red card by referee Martin Sludden for an elbow-led challenge which floored Ballinderry's Darren Conway.

In a hard-fought game, Sludden sent off three players and issued 12 yellow cards in all.

McEntee and Crossmaglen felt the referee should have allowed for the weather conditions and floodlights. McEntee said after the match: "He has to allow for the weather. You can make slight error judgements under the lights and on slippy ground and you're going to have a harsh enough tackle."

But after reviewing the referee's report and video evidence of the incident, an Ulster Council appeal panel ruled that the red card should be downgraded to a yellow card, thus freeing McEntee from suspension for the replay.

The 31-year-old centre-forward has been a key figure during Crossmaglen's record 13 successive county championships wins and four All-Ireland successes, although he was held scoreless last weekend.

In a further boss for Cross manager Donal Murtagh, corner back Paul McKeown is winning his battle with a shoulder injury. He did some light training last night and should be fit to start Sunday's game.