Shane Mulholland previously played Irish League football

Down will have an additional attacking option for the Ulster Football Semi-final against Fermanagh after a two-month suspension imposed on forward Shane Mulholland was lifted.

Mulholland was sent off while playing for his club Ballyholland and was handed a two-month suspension by the Down GAA Board after also been found guilty of verbally abusing the match referee.

However, Mulholland then launched an appeal to the Ulster Council which was heard this week.

After viewing video evidence of the match, the forward was cleared of any offence even though he had already served five weeks of the ban.

Mulholland returned to the Down panel in March after not being involved in the intercounty scene for more than a year.

The Ballyholland man played for Down in the 1999 season when they reached the Ulster final against Armagh.

Mulholland has a cultured left foot and could offer a useful free-taking option to manager Paddy O'Rourke.

McEvoy quits Kilkenny

The forward has not lined out for Down since the All-Ireland Qualifier defeat by Armagh in the summer of 2001.

Meanwhile, the Kilkenny hurling panel has been rocked by its second high profile departure in 24 hours.

Captain Charlie Carter sensationally quit the squad on Tuesday and out-of-favour forward Brian McEvoy has also opted out of Brian Cody's squad.

Like Carter, McEvoy has been unable to claim a starting place this year.