DUBLIN MANAGER JIM Gavin has been handed a big boost ahead of his side’s All-Ireland senior football championship semi-final replay with Mayo this evening as Diarmuid Connolly has won his appeal against the red card he picked up in last week’s drawn game.

News of the surprise decision emerged in the early hours of this morning after a hearing before the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA), the GAA’s independent arbitration tribunal.

No details of the decision have emerged as yet but the news was confirmed by Dublin GAA:

This is the second time the St. Vincent’s man has escaped censure despite being shown the line in an All-Ireland semi-final. In 2011 he was allowed to play in Dublin’s win over Kerry even though he had been sent off by Maurice Deegan for striking Donegal’s Marty Boyle three weeks previously.

This morning’s news also comes after the GAA’s disciplinary system was widely criticised following the Central Hearing Committee’s decision not to suspend Kevin Keane despite the Mayo man picking up a red card for striking Michael Murphy of Donegal in their All-Ireland quarter-final this year.

‘He’s the best hurler in the country, without a doubt the best I’ve seen’

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