IN ONE of the most severe decisions in the history of the GAA in Tyrone the Games Administration Committee of the county hoard has disqualified the Carrickmore club from league competition for a year and has suspended 11 of their players for periods varying from two years to two months.
Six players from the Errigal Ciaran club which was involved in the fracas which took place at the abandoned Division One league final between the clubs were also suspended.
The disqualification of the Carrickmore club refers only to the senior team and the reserves.
The Tyrone All Star player Peter Canavan who had been summoned to the disciplinary hearing was cleared and was also commended for his attempts "to restore order."
The committee officially announced its decision yesterday and commented that readmission to league competition would be dependent upon the club "taking steps to impose the principles of sportsmanship, discipline and good behaviour" on it players.
The committee also announced that its decisions reflected "the unanimous view of the committee that Carrickmore players were the main aggressors in the incidents" on the occasion in question.
Because the Games Administration Committee does not have jurisdiction over the county championship, Carrickmore will be eligible to play in this year's championship unless the county board itself decides to take its own action.
Details of the varied sentences will not be released by the committee until those who have been punished are informed by letter.
It is known, however, that four members of the Tyrone county panel have been punished. These are Plunkett Mallan, who has apparently been given a two month ban, David McElroy (one year) and Ronan McGarrity (three months) - all three from Carrickmore and Errigal's Eamon McCaffrey who was suspended for three months.
The Division One league title was awarded to Errigal Ciaran who were three points ahead when the match had to be abandoned in injury time.
Tyrone face Kerry in Killarney on Sunday and it remains to be seen what effect the recent events in Tyrone will have on the morale of the county, but there will be general relief that Peter Canavan has not been suspended.
The Tyrone team will not be available until later in the week.
Kerry have kept the left half back spot vacant in their team pending notice of the availability of a number of players including Mike Hassett and Decian O'Keeffe.
Peter O'Leary is in goal with Barry O'Shea at fullback and Liam Flaherty at centre back.
The Donegal team to play All Ireland champions Meath at Ballybofey shows six changes from the side which lost to Kerry in the final league game before the Christmas break. Twenty year old Adrian Sweeney from Dungloe makes his full debut while James McHugh and Paddy Hegarty will be playing their first competitive game for Donegal since the championship defeat by Down last May.
Paul Callaghan, whose last league game was against Kerry in November 1995, comes in for goalkeeper Gary Walsh. Donegal manager P J McGowan stressed that Callaghan's selection was no reflection on Walsh's performance for Ulster in the Railway Cup last Sunday.
Peter McGinley and Ollie Reid, who last played against Tyrone, are in defence; Reid getting his first selection as a half back. Donegal are without six players.
