DUBLIN’S PHILLY MCMAHON will miss their opening game of the 2015 Allianz National Football League Division 1 campaign against Kerry after the county decided against appealing his one-match ban.

The GAA’s Central Hearings Committee upheld the defender’s proposed suspension relating to an incident with Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy in the closing stages of this year’s All-Ireland final.

Though the defender had denied any allegations of eye-gouging, his hand appeared to make contact with the Kingdom forward’s eye.

Accepting the suspension means the Footballer of the Year nominee will miss their rematch with Kerry when the league gets underway on 30 January in Croke Park.

Dublin chairman Sean Shanley explained the decision not to appeal the ban to the Irish Examiner:

“He had a hearing and that’s where we will be leaving it.

“We felt it was harsh, he was challenging for the ball with the player who was on the ground but we won’t be going any further with it.”

The42 has contacted Dublin for comment.

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