Rising Down football star Anton McArdle has failed in his bid to have a six-month ban overturned.

McArdle was hit with the suspension by Down's CCC after making a late substitute appearance for his club Burren against St. Mary's in an U21 championship match - a week after he was controversially sent off in Burren's AIB Ulster club final defeat to Crossmaglen Rangers.

Despite contending that he had been incorrectly advised by his club that he was eligible to play in the U21 game, his appeal has been thrown out by the Ulster Council. As things stand, McArdle will miss UUJ's Sigerson Cup opener against UL next Tuesday as well as Down's entire NFL campaign.

Burren manager Frank Dawson has urged disciplinary chiefs to show the player some leniency.

"We were led to believe he could play," Dawson said in the Irish News.

"The suspension, six months for playing while suspended, while ineligible to play, it is the rule, but to me it is a very severe suspension for what Anton did, what he did in all innocence."

Meanwhile, Down also look set to be without Kalum King for their first two NFL games against Donegal and Cork on February 5 and 12 after he received a straight red card in last Sunday's McKenna Cup semi-final loss to Derry. Tweet

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