Tyrone win McKenna Cup appeal

Tyrone have won an appeal against the Ulster Council's decision to strip them of their 2007 Dr McKenna Cup title.

The Red Hands took their case to the GAA after their provincial body ruled that they would have to hand over the trophy after committing a player ineligibility offence.

Tyrone easily won last month's McKenna Cup final, beating Donegal 2-9 to 0-5 in Omagh, but they fielded two university players, Cathal McCarron and Damien McCaul, in their starting fifteen - the pair were not listed on their teamsheet.

McKenna Cup competition rules state that university sides should have first pick on players eligible for both teams. Tyrone were earlier docked points for starting student players in a group game in this year's competition.

The unauthorised use of McCarron and McCaul in the final plunged Tyrone into hot water and the Ulster Council took the decision to strip Mickey Harte's men of the crown.

But the GAA's Central Appeals Committee found in favour of Tyrone. The issue could draw on however as the Ulster Council may decide to rule again on the matter in relation to technical interpretation.