Mayo await as Gormley wins appeal against suspension

Defender Conor Gormley will be available to play for Tyrone in Sunday week's All-Ireland SFC semi-final against Mayo after having his one-match overturned tonight.

Gormley was given a retrospective ban by the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee some 10 days after the Red Hands' quarter-final victory over Monaghan.

In an incident shortly after referee Cormac Reilly had blown for half-time, Gormley got involved in an altercation with Dessie Mone and TV footage showed him raising his right hand to the Monaghan player.

The Carrickmore St. Colmcille's clubman appeared to grasp Mone's left arm and as he released it, Gormley's right hand appeared to make contact with Mone's face.

On closer viewing, it seems it was Mone's own pink-gloved hand which struck him as Gormley shoved him away.

As the incident was missed by the referee at the time, the CCCC reviewed the video and decided to propose a one-match suspension for the three-time All-Ireland SFC winner.

However, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte confirmed last evening that they would be appealing Gormley's ban in addition to the suspension handed down to Martin Penrose who was red carded for another striking incident involving Mone during the quarter-final.

News has since broken tonight that Gormley's appeal to the Central Hearings Committee was successful and that he is now available to play in the upcoming semi-final clash with the Connacht champions.

But it seems that Penrose is still suspended for the Mayo match. Although there has been no official word as of yet, sources have said that Penrose's appeal to the Central Hearings Committee was unsuccessful.

He still has the option of taking his case to the Central Appeals Committee.