Derry's Bradley gets a stay of execution

Disputes Resolution Authority:Paddy Bradley is expected to return to the Derry football team ahead of their opening Ulster championship match against Antrim at Casement Park this Sunday after the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) stalled his 12-week suspension.

Bradley was punished by the Derry hearings committee for "minor physical interference" with referee Barry Cassidy in a club game for Glenullin six weeks ago. The Ulster Council upheld the ban on appeal but Bradley took his case to the DRA last Tuesday and was represented by Fergal Logan.

The DRA ruled the case must be reheard by the Derry hearings committee as one of the initial panel members was a Bellaghy clubmate of Cassidy. A DRA statement read: "A DRA tribunal found that the suspension imposed on Paddy Bradley by the Derry hearings committee was done in breach of fair procedures and referred the matter back to them for rehearing. The tribunal put a stay on the operation of the suspension pending the rehearing."

The DRA secretary, Liam Keane, added yesterday: "The decision related to the constitution of the hearings committee in Derry. One of the committee members was a clubmate and associate of the referee who was interfered with by Paddy Bradley. The process is to be heard again but he must still be exonerated."

The DRA also recommended the six weeks already served should be taken into consideration should Bradley's rescheduled hearing - highly unlikely to take place before Sunday - reach the same conclusion.

Derry manager Paddy Crozier will release a team tonight, with Bradley expected to return. But Bradley's younger brother Eoin remains out of consideration after dropping off the panel earlier this year.

Meanwhile, the Central Competitions Control Committee confirmed Meath's Brian Farrell and Mayo's Pat Harte are suspended for four weeks after receiving straight red cards in their championship outings against Kildare and Galway. Farrell will miss Sunday's Leinster quarter-final against Dublin. Harte must sit out Mayo's first-round qualifier on July 7th. Roscommon hurler David Loughnane received an eight-week suspension.