The GAA has apologised to Monaghan defender Drew Wylie for comments directed at him by an opponent during his team's McKenna Cup defeat to Cavan.

The Cavan player concerned accepted - and has already served - his two-match ban and is now free to play in the opening round of the league this weekend.

GAA president Liam O'Neill issued an apology to Ballybay clubman Wylie through The Irish Independent and accepted that present rules governing the punishment of sectarian abuse are not adequate:

"I'd like to say we abhor any form of abuse of our players, whether it be racial or sectarian or on body size or anything that somebody can't change.

"Any insult like that is reprehensible. I'm delighted to get the opportunity to convey our regret to the player involved.

"It was beyond regrettable. We regret it terribly. The organisation is upset about it, I'm upset about it and, on behalf of the organisation, I would just like to say we're very, very sorry it happened to him. I was shocked, disappointed for him.

"Even though we thought we had it covered, we hadn't and we're prepared to take immediate action.

"I've often said that the mark of an organisation is how you deal with it when it happens. We had the rule, he was sent off correctly. We find out the rule wasn't adequate. We're quite prepared to immediately address that."

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