Monaghan's Championship hopes have been dealt a blow with the news that Rory Woods has been suspended for three months.
Woods, who had amassed 17 points during the Farney men's Allianz National Football League Division Two campaign this season, was sent off for an alleged kicking incident 11 minutes into Monaghan's surprise semi-final victory over Derry in Clones.
Monaghan went on to win that game and beat Meath in the final last weekend in Croke Park (which Woods of course missed), fuelling optimism in the county of further success this summer.
However, the loss of Donaghmoyne man Woods, a nephew of former All Star and Monaghan great Nudie Hughes, is great news for Derry, who Seamus McEnaney's men face in their Ulster opener on June 5.
McEnaney has already confirmed, though, that Woods will appeal what he described as a "very unfair punishment".
It's likely then that the Games Administration Committee's new appeals body will decide his fate.
