Paul Campbell is likely to be ruled out of much of St Patrick's Athletic's championship run-in after being handed a three-match ban by the disciplinary committee of the National League.

The versatile 28-year-old, who was sent off for a challenge on Liam Kelly in the second cup replay between the two sides, will now be out of action from April 13th, the date on which the Dubliners are now scheduled to travel to Ballybofey for a re-fixed league tie against Finn Harps.

Campbell will miss that match, as well as those against Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk over the following 12 days unless the club decides to appeal the severity of the punishment. In the circumstances, it seems unlikely that such an appeal would meet with any success.

"We thought it would probably be a two-match ban," said St Patrick's manager Pat Dolan yesterday "and we're disappointed. But at the end of the day, it was a bad challenge and Paul has to take the consequences for that."