Dublin and Kerry stars disciplined over brawl

÷DUBLIN’S John Small has been hit with a two-match ban arising from the post-match brawl in last Saturday night’s Allianz Football League clash in Tralee. Kerry’s Brian Ó Beaglaoich received a one-match suspension and is set to miss out on Kerry’s visit to Tuam on Sunday week, having been charged with ‘kicking with minimal force’. It is understood that the An Gaeltacht clubman is likely to accept the charge and the one-match suspension. However, Small is likely to miss Saturday week’s headline showdown with Mayo at Croke Park and the following weekend’s trip to Roscommon, after being charged with a second Category Three offence inside 48 weeks. The Dublin star was given a one-match suspension last summer, missing his team’s opening round Super 8s clash with Donegal as a result of a straight red card in the Leinster final. It was unclear last night as to whether Small will contest the charge, but the prospect of a twomatch ban could see him seek a hearing. The Dublin star was also sent off in the All-Ireland final against Tyrone last September, the second successive time he had been sent off in a final. It is understood that Croke Park’s CCCC have also handed both the Kerry and Dublin county boards undisclosed fines as a result of the incident.

LIMERICK’S AllIreland winning hero Aaron Gillane drove Mary Immaculate College into next Saturday’s Fitzgibbon Cup final with an inspirational display as they beat NUI Galway 1-18 to 0-18 in Cusack Park yesterday. The talented forward (right) scored 1-12 of his team’s total, which included a penalty just before half-time. The goal would turn out to be the decisive score of the game as the Galway side were kept at arm’s length. Liam Forde did have the ball in the net for NUI Galway near the end but it was ruled out by referee Johnny Ryan for a square ball. Mary Immaculate, who won the Cup in 2017, will meet UCC in the final next weekend.