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, while 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 part 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.