UPDATED: Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has had his eight-week sideline suspension binned after his team fielded an ineligible player during their McKenna Cup victory over Armagh last week.
The home side would record a resounding 3-16 to 1-6 win in Ballybofey in the McKenna Cup curtainraiser, with a big crowd showing up to see McGuinness' first competitive game in charge of the side since his departure in 2014. However, it soon emerged that there question marks surrounding the eligibility of one of the players that featured for Donegal.
The issue stemmed from the inclusion of Finbarr Roarty, who was still 17-years old at the time of the fixture. GAA rules state that senior inter-county players must be 18-years old at the start of the calendar year in order to be eligible to play in that year's competitions.
Roarty, who has yet to feature for club Naomh Conaill at senior level, would turn 18 the day after the game was played.
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Jim McGuinness has eight week Donegal suspension overturned
On Monday, Jim McGuinness had been hit with an eight-week ban as a result of Donegal fielding an ineligible player, while the team also lost the two points they gained from winning the match. Armagh were not granted the two points as they did not appeal the result.
After an appeals process, Donegal GAA confirmed on Friday morning that the appeal had been overturned.
Donegal GAA today have confirmed that Jim McGuinness's 8 week ban has been overturned on appeal. McGuinness will be on the sidelines for Donegal's McKenna Cup semifinal on Saturday.
We can now look forward to our McKenna cup semi-final against Monaghan on Sunday.
Donegal also tweeted "that the County secretary has been informed that the alleged infraction was not proven".
While Roarty's eligibility is not disputed, Declan Bogue in the42 reported that 'sufficient doubt' was cast over whether it was McGuinness or the Donegal county secretary who had ultimate responsibility in selecting him.
Donegal managed to qualify for the McKenna Cup semifinals despite having the victory binned and they'll be playing Saturday night against in Monaghan in Castleblayney with their manager on the sidelines.
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