CHC facing busy schedule as they address challenges to proposed bans

The Central Hearings Committee (CHC) face a busy schedule in Croke Park this and tomorrow evening as they address challenges to the proposed bans for Tiernan McCann and two players arising from last month’s Dublin-Armagh challenge game.

Argument on those Central Competition Controls Committee (CCCC) recommendations as well as the €5,000 fines proposed for Dublin and Armagh will be heard this evening while Mayo’s Kevin Keane argument against his red card against Donegal is on tomorrow evening’s agenda. There are also matters arising from the Galway- Armagh qualifier game.

It had been thought Dublin and Armagh had only been served with fines arising from a pre-match brawl after which Dublin’s Davey Byrne had to be hospitalised with facial injuries. .

Both Tyrone and Mayo are confident of having their recommended suspensions for their players overturned.

Tyrone’s history of success in contesting suspensions will give them encouragement. Their All-Ireland U21 manager, former player and barrister Feargal Logan has been at the heart of most triumphs:

2014:

Darren McCurry had a black card rescinded by the CHC along with Monaghan’s Darren Hughes following their Ulster quarter-final.

2013:

Conor Gormley was cleared to play against Mayo in the All-Ireland semi-final after the CHC deemed the retrospective ban proposed by the CCCC arising from Gormley’s involvement in a half-time incident with Monaghan’s Dessie Mone was unproven. Martin Penrose’s suspension stood.

2009:

Although Ryan McMenamin’s eight-week ban was upheld after he grabbed Paul Galvin’s groin in the Tyrone-Kerry league game, Tyrone, like their opponents, had a €5,000 fine arising from the disruptive behaviour of their players reduced to €2,000.

2007:

The Ulster Council stripped Tyrone of the McKenna Cup after claiming they played unauthorised university players. They brought their case to Croker where the Central Appeals Committee found in their favour.

2007:

Owen Mulligan faced an eight-week ban following a red card picked up in Tyrone’s last Division 1 game against Mayo but it was successfully contested.

2006:

Like the four Dublin players cited by the then Games Administration Committee after the infamous “Battle of Omagh” league game, three Tyrone players - Owen Mulligan, Kevin Hughes and Mickey McGee - all had their recommended bans lifted by the Central Appeals Committee.

2005:

The then Central Disciplinary Committee overturned bans for Peter Canavan and Stephen O’Neill after they were sent off against Armagh in the Ulster final replay overturned. Ryan McMenamin’s knee-drop on John McEntee was upgraded from yellow to red and was handed a four-week ban. He had the suspension thrown out by the DRA.