Ward will not appeal eight-week suspension

Meath footballer Mark Ward will not appeal an eight-week ban handed down by the Central Disciplinary Committee after last Wednesday night's meeting in Croke Park.

However, the Meath County Board chairman, Brendan Dempsey, was able to confirm the player would be eligible to play for UCD - although the college are no longer in the Sigerson Cup - as he was only suspended on a minimum charge.

The ban was for a straight red card following an incident in the National League game against Down on February 2nd.

The minimum for striking is normally four weeks but Ward was also shown a straight red card playing for the Meath under-21s in the last 48 weeks.

There were other suspensions handed down by the CDC. Anthony Dunne of Athlone IT got four weeks for an incident in the Keogh Cup against Meath. Paul McDonnell from Antrim hurling club Glenariff received a 12-week suspension arising from the All-Ireland intermediate club semi-final against Ballinhassig.

The CDC meet again tomorrow to conduct personal hearings for the five Dublin players (Bryan Cullen, Ciarán Whelan, Kevin Bonner, Alan Brogan and Peadar Andrews) and four Tyrone players (Ryan McMenamin, Michael McGee, Owen Mulligan and Kevin Hughes) charged under Rule 140 of the 2003 official guide. Andrews and Cullen are also charged under Rule 138. Both county boards have also been charged under Rule 140, while Tyrone must identify an official involved in an incident with Brogan.

Salthill-Knocknacarra must plan without midfielder Barry Dooney for Sunday's All-Ireland club football semi-final against Kilmacud Crokes.

The Central Appeals Committee turned down his appeal against a suspension handed down after he was sent off in the All-Ireland club quarter-final against Tír Chonaill Gaels.

Clare captain Seánie McMahon, Niall Gilligan, Declan O'Rourke and Gerry O'Grady are all out injured for the National League opener against Down on Sunday but all four are expected to return for Sunday week's meeting with Wexford. Pat Donnellan is the only Clare player making his debut.

Dublin hand league debuts to Tomás Brady, Peadar Carton and Pádraig O'Driscoll for Sunday's Division Two game against Derry in Lavey. O'Driscoll is a native of Carrigaline, Co Cork, but has been playing for Lucan Sarsfields for three seasons.

CLARE (SH v Down): D Fitzgerald; T Holland, B Lohan, C Harrison; P Donnellan, C Forde, C Plunkett; B O'Connell, P Vaughan; D McMahon, T Carmody, A Markham; B Nugent, T Griffin, A Quinn.

DUBLIN (SH v Derry): G Maguire; P Brennan, K Ryan, T Brady; G Bennett, R Fallon, A de Paor; D Sweeney, P O'Driscoll; S McDonnell, D Russell, T Moore; K Flynn, D Curtin, P Carton.

WATERFORD (SH v Wexford): C Hennessy; D Coffey, T Feeney, E Murphy; B Phelan, J Murray, K Moran; E Kelly, M Walsh; J Mullane, S Prendergast, P Flynn; C Carey, J Kennedy, G O'Connor.