Rian O'Neill: Armagh fail in bid to have player's one-match ban overturned ahead of Galway game

The incident involving Rian O'Neill sparked protests from Tyrone players and the Armagh player was red carded by referee Martin McNally

Armagh have been unsuccessful in their bid to have Rian O'Neill's one-match ban overturned ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland round-robin game against Galway at Carrick-on-Shannon.

O'Neill was sent off in the first half of Armagh's defeat by Tyrone on 3 June.

Armagh decided to bring the case to the GAA's Central Hearings Committee, who upheld the suspension.

As it stands, O'Neill will miss Sunday's crucial concluding Group Two game against the Tribesmen.

Armagh have the option of taking the case to the Central Appeals Committee, but it is not clear if the county will do so.

Crossmaglen clubman O'Neill's knee appeared to make contact with the head of Cormac Quinn but manager Kieran McGeeney said after the game that O'Neill insisted the Tyrone half-back had "pulled him down by the jersey".

Armagh go into Sunday's final series of round-robin games in third spot in Group Two and on course to at least earn a preliminary quarter-finals spot.

However if McGeeney's side were to lose in Carrick-on-Shannon against the table toppers and Westmeath shock Tyrone at Kingspan Breffni, it could see the Orchard men exiting the All-Ireland Championship on scoring difference.

Tyrone and Armagh both have a current score difference of -1 with Westmeath on -9.

The championship meeting between Galway and Armagh last summer saw the sides fight out an epic All-Ireland quarter-final which included a mass brawl at full-time in normal time before the Tribesmen clinched victory in a dramatic penalty shootout.