GAELIC GAMES:CORK FULL BACK Michael Shields and Dublin defender Philip McMahon are both expected to accept four-week suspensions handed down by the Central Competitions Control Committee as neither are due to miss their team's respective opening championships fixtures.

Cork’s opening Munster championship match is against Clare on May 22nd while Dublin are not out in Leinster until June 5th when they play the winners of Laois and Longford.

The CCCC met in the wake of last Sunday’s National Football League final at Croke Park to review an incident at half-time when TG4 cameras picked up Shields and McMahon exchanging blows in the tunnel.

Although it is still unconfirmed, both county boards are also believed to have been handed €2,000 fines, which may bring into question the issue of teams using the same tunnel at the same time. Should either board contest such a fine or the players their suspensions they must go before the Central Hearings Committee.

Officials from Cork and Dublin were not prepared to make any comment last night.