“We can now look forward to our McKenna cup semi-final against Monaghan on Sunday.”
Jim McGuinness has had his eight week suspension overturned, after he and the Donegal county board appealed the ruling to punish him for playing an ineligible player.
During Donegal’s McKenna Cup win against Armagh, McGuinness made the decision to play Finbarr Roarty, who was only 17 at the time, and was deemed to be underage for the game following a meeting of Ulster GAA officials.
Despite the fact that Roarty turned 18 just a few days after the match, the Roarty turned 18 just a few days after the match but the rules state that all senior inter-county players must be at least that age by the start of the calendar year.
Following a meeting, the decision was made to hit the manager with an eight-match ban, however he requested a hearing with the Ulster GAA hearings committee, which took place last night.
Initially, the blame was pointed at McGuinness for not knowing that the player was under 18 at the beginning of 2024, but with that infraction ‘not proven’ it suggests that may have been the manager’s responsibility.
His appeal has been successful, with Donegal GAA confirming: “Following a request by Jim McGuinness to the Ulster hearings committee, the county secretary has been informed that the alleged infraction was not proven, and that no further disciplinary action is to be taken.
“We can now look forward to our McKenna cup semi-final against Monaghan on Sunday.”
Related links:
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- Donegal expected to appeal Jim McGuinness ban as Eamon McGee hits out at Ulster council
- Jim McGuinness admits he had Michael Murphy ‘half-tortured’ to make Donegal return
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