Lengthy bans dished out after melee

Suspensions totalling 60 weeks have been handed out to players and officials involved in a melee near the end of a recent Meath SHC game between Gaeil Colmcille and Drumree at Longwood.

Referee Marcus Quinn was forced to abandon the match when a number of players and mentors became entangled in a brawl with Kells side Gaeil Colmcille leading by 0-13 to 0-12.

The four Gaeil Colmcille players receiving bans included Conor Ferguson (a prominent referee in the county) and his son Fionn, who were both handed 12-week suspensions. Team-mates Niall Flanagan and John Morris were suspended for eight weeks and two Drumree mentors, Paddy Doyle and Ronan Curley, were hit with bans of 12 and eight weeks respectively.

Another Drumree official and two players have appealed suspensions. The Meath CCC proposed hefty suspensions for both clubs which have been appealed.

The game between the sides both battling against relegation was refixed for this weekend but will not take place as Gaeil Colmcille have conceded a walkover.