Cork's Kerrigan banned for two matches

Cork forward Paul Kerrigan has been suspended for two matches following his dismissal in their Division 1 opener against Armagh.

Kerrigan received a straight red card from referee Syl Doyle for 'an attempted headbutt' on Armagh defender Finian Moriarty during last Sunday's drawn game at the Athletic Grounds.

Under a new trial which came into effect for the Allianz Football League, match bans have replaced time bans for penalised players.

Attempted use of the head is a Category 3 infraction, so Kerrigan will miss the Rebels' league clashes with Down and Donegal if the ban stands. In that case, he would return for the March 10 encounter with Laois.

If the old system was still in operation, the same offence would have carried an eight-week ban.

Cork look set to appeal the Nemo Rangers clubman's suspension.

"I had a fairly good view of it," admitted manager Conor Counihan, when asked afterwards about the incident in the first half.

"I think it was the linesman who made the decision under a certain amount of duress. That's it. I'd be far more interested in what more rational people would make of it."