London boss Paul Coggins will be able to call upon the services of former Laois star Cathal Greene against Mayo in the Connacht final, after Greene became eligible to play for the county team by togging out for St Gabriels, writes the Irish World's Damian Dolan.

Greene made a five-minute cameo appearance off the bench for the county hurling champions at Ruislip on Saturday in their first round of senior championship clash with Kilburn Gaels at Ruislip, and will now be free to feature against Mayo on July 21.

Greene had previously been hit with a 48-week ban for playing for St Kiernan's in a Division 1 League fixture against Kingdom Kerry Gaels three days before his transfer had been sanctioned by Croke Park.

Greene's transfer went through on April 16 and he subsequently played senior championship. The chairman and secretary of St Kiernan's both also received 48-week bans.

The issue came to light prior to London's quarter-final victory over Sligo at Ruislip on May 26, after Greene was added to panel following at the end of the league campaign.

Under the recommendation of the Central Appeals Committee the player was reinstated by Central Council and cleared to play for Kiernan's, but his earlier championship appearance for Kiernan's was deemed null and void, leaving Greene needing to make a further championship appearance in order to become eligible to play for London's footballers.

With no senior football championship fixtures scheduled before the Connacht final, the only other option open to Greene was to play hurling championship.

Greene will certainly strengthen Coggins' London panel. He made his National League debut for Laois in 2010 against Tipperary, scoring two points to help Laois to a 1-13 to Tipperary 1-11 win. The midfielder won an All Ireland Minor with Laois in 2003, and in 2008 played in the All Ireland U21 final defeat to Cork.

Cuchulainns forward Robbie Croft, who was on the London panel earlier this year but did not
feature, also qualified to play for the county team last weekend when he played for his club side in their Intermediate Hurling Championship win over Brothers Pearse B. Tweet

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