Tyrone could face sanctions over use of ‘ineligible’ players

ULSTER Council chairman Micheal Greenan admits Tyrone may face sanction over manager Mickey Harte’s decision to use four “ineligible” college players in Sunday’s Dr McKenna Cup tie against Derry.

Greenan attended the game in Omagh, where three UUJ players and one from St Mary’s were in the Red Hands’ starting line-up, in breach of competition regulations which state that universities have first call on inter-county players.

And he said the provincial council may call a special meeting this week to deal with the issue.

“That’s a possibility. They’re not due to meet, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t meet,” said Greenan.

UUJ trio Colm Cavanagh, Brendan Boggs and Damien McCaul were all in the Tyrone side, along with Cathal McCarron of St Mary’s, despite warnings that their inclusion in the squad was breaching competition regulations.

“The Ulster Council position is that they have broken the regulations, and we’ll have to see what to do,” said Greenan.

“It’s not a matter for me, it’s a matter for the council to deal with, and the council will deal with it.

“My view is immaterial, it’s the council. Whatever view the council take, that’s the view we will take.”

Tyrone are due to meet Cavan in the final and decisive Group B tie under lights at Breffni Park this weekend, with the winners going through to the semi-finals. There’s also a possibility that both sides could go through to the last four, with a new format offering a semi-final place to the fourth best team overall from the group stages.

Any decision by the Ulster Council to punish Tyrone for their actions could affect their bid to win the McKenna Cup for a fourth successive year.

But Red Hand manager Mickey Harte has stood by his decision to select the players concerned, insisting that they have made themselves available for selection to him rather than to the colleges they attend.

“The players made that decision. They were asked where did they want to go, and they chose Tyrone,” said Harte.

Munster Council bosses confirmed that under the rules of their McGrath Cup and Waterford Crystal competitions, students must play with their college if required.

Chairman Sean Fogarty said it is only right that the third level colleges have first call on their players for this particular competition.

“The colleges availed of the opportunity to play in the competition as it gave them ideal preparation for the forthcoming Sigerson Cup. If you took the inter-county players off them, it would be a futile exercise playing in the McGrath Cup or the Waterford Crystal hurling tournament,” he said.

“It’s only right and proper then that they have a full panel to pick from. Of course if the colleges don’t require all their players, they are free to play with their county in the competition.

“As far as I’m concerned all the Munster counties and third level colleges have abided by the rule. While it’s not a national rule, every province has it’s own rules for their second competitions, and the same rules apply in all four.

“There was a situation in Nenagh on Sunday where Shane Maher played with Tipperary against UL in the Waterford Crystal hurling tournament, even though he is a student in LIT. They didn’t need him so he played with his county.

“In fact there were a number of Tipperary players with UL and the game afforded Babs Keating the chance to see them all in action.”

Tipperary will play Waterford IT in the quarter-final on Sunday and both Hugh Moloney and Conor O’Brien have been released by their county to play with WIT.