Loughrea midfielder Cullen Killeen has been cleared to play in Sunday's AIB All-Ireland club hurling final after a Disputes Resolution Authority hearing on Friday night successfully overturned the red card he picked up in the semi-final against Sleacht Néill.
Killeen saw red late on against the Derry champions at Parnell Park, with referee Johnny Murphy deeming that the 19-year-old was guilty of a striking offence when tussling inexplicably with Brendan Rogers in the closing seconds of the match.
The Galway champions, unable to produce sufficient video evidence in making the case that Killeen should not be serving a one-match suspension, had their appeal to both the Central Hearings Committee and Central Appeals Committee dismissed.
Their last port of call was to go to the DRA and that avenue proved successful, with Killeen, who was recently called up to the Galway senior squad, now eligible to play against Waterford's Ballygunner in the decider.
"The Tribunal's full reasoned, written award will be communicated to the parties and published on the DRA website once finalised," the DRA said.
The full statement on their website read: "A full Tribunal hearing took place on the evening of 16 January 2026 at the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel, Dublin in respect of the Request for Arbitration (hereinafter "the Claim") submitted by Cullen Ó Cillín challenging the decisions of the Central Hearings Committee and upheld by the Central Appeals Committee to impose a one match suspension for an infraction of "Striking with a hurley, with minimal force" in contravention of Riail 7.2 (b) T.O. 2025 arising out of an incident which occurred during the AIB GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Club Championship between Baile Locha Riach and Sleacht Néil on 21 December 2025.
"The Tribunal (Mr. Dermot Flanagan SC, Mr. Gareth Robinson BL and Mr. Con Hogan) carefully considered the submissions of the parties over the course of three hours.
"The CAC determined at page 2 of its decision that the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) heard the evidence submitted by the Claimant and reviewed the video and decided that the evidence was not compelling such as to rebut the Referee's Report.
"It is clear from the CHC's minutes and its decision that that was not the test that was applied.
"The Tribunal determined that there was a misapplication of Rule 7.3 (aa) (1) (vi) T.O. 2025 by the CHC. The Tribunal determined that the CAC erred in not identifying a misapplication of Rule 7.3 (aa) (1) (vi) T.O. 2025.
"Pursuant to Rule 7.6 (q) the Tribunal quashed the decision of the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) dated 15 January 2026.
"The Tribunal thereafter quashed the decision of the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) dated 9 January 2026.
"The Tribunal directs no further action on the part of the decision maker pursuant to precedent.
"The Tribunal would like to commend the parties for the manner in which this case was presented and for the excellent submissions made."
