GAA dash Freeman's hopes

Tommy Freeman's hopes of playing for Monaghan in this Saturday's All-Ireland Senior Football qualifier against Armagh at Clones have been dealt a major blow, after the GAA's Central Appeals Committee (CAC) turned down the Maghracloone clubman's appeal to his suspension.

At a meeting of the GAA's CAC last night, the committee rejected Freeman's appeal to an eight-week ban, which had been dished out following an incident in the Ulster Senior Football Championship defeat to Derry last month.

The committee refused to hear the case, as he was appealing the decision to commence disciplinary action.

An official GAA statement read: "At a meeting of the Central Appeal's Committee held in Croke Park last night (30.06.09), an appeal from Tommy Freeman (Monaghan) could not be heard, as it is not possible to appeal against the decision to commence disciplinary action, in accordance with Rule 155 (c) (iii) T.O. 2008."

However this saga is set to run for another while at least, with Monaghan County Board officials hoping to pursue the matter through the Disputes Resolution Authority before Saturday's crunch local derby in St Tiernach's Park.