Donegal duo dropped from panel

Donegal football was plunged into turmoil yesterday after it emerged that Brian McLaughlin and Eamon McGee had been thrown off the panel for disciplinary reasons. The two players were punished for alleged misbehaviour after last Sunday's defeat to Armagh in the Ulster football final at Croke Park.

Football manager Brian McEniff will take charge of the investigation into the matter.

"I have excluded two lads from the squad for an alleged disciplinary matter last night. I will be investigating the matter personally at present," said McEniff.

"I don't expect any disruption to our preparation for the rest of the championship. The players know I am a firm-minded man and also a player-oriented manager."

Local reports state that both players had previously been cautioned for not turning out for training after Donegal's victory over Tyrone in the Ulster championship semi-final.

The panel left Dublin on Sunday night after the Armagh match and headed back to Donegal. They reconvened for a recovery session on Monday night at Fintra beach in Killybegs. Both players were in attendance but it was reported that they were not fit to actually train.

They did take part in Wednesday night's training session in Ballybofey but were subsequently removed from the panel, for the time being at least.

McGee started at wing back in Sunday's final against Armagh and was replaced with five minutes remaining by Karl Lacy.

It is the Gweedore club man's first season on the senior team, replacing injured All Star defender Kevin Cassidy.

McLaughlin, from St Michael's, was amongst the substitutes last weekend but did not make an appearance.

He is an established panel member and ws on the starting 15 for the championship matches against Antrim and Tyrone this summer.

This is the second such incident to happen in Donegal in as many years. Mickey Moran departed from the role of manager two years ago after defeat to Dublin in the All-Ireland quarter-final replay, amid suggestions of player indiscipline after the drawn encounter.

The Roscommon footballers have also come under the spotlight in recent years for similar acts of indiscipline.