McGuinness hit with eight-week ban for fielding ineligible player
January 09, 2024
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness ©INPHO/John McVitty
Jim McGuinness has been handed an eight-week ban by Ulster GAA for fielding an ineligible player during Donegal's Dr McKenna Cup opener against Armagh last week.
Finbarr Roarty played in the game on Wednesday, despite being only 17. He turned 18 the following day, but the rules state that all senior inter-county players must be that age by the start of the calendar year.
Donegal will also lose the points from the victory, while McGuinness - who is only a few months into his second spell as Donegal manager - will be absent from the sideline for the first four rounds of the Allianz League, with his suspension not expiring until the start of March.
In a brief statement after a meeting of the management committee, Donegal GAA hinted at appealing the decision to Croke Park.
"CLG Dhún na nGall wish to confirm that we have received correspondence from Ulster GAA regarding our Dr McKenna Cup game of January 3rd," the statement read.
"The correspondence will be considered by CLG Dhún na nGall in the coming days.
"No further comment will be made until this matter has been concluded."
UPDATE: McGuinness wins appeal against eight-week ban
— CLG Dhún na nGall (@officialdonegal) January 9, 2024Tweet
