Cavan footballers in breach of winter training ban

The Cavan senior footballers were last night the first team found guilty of breaking the GAA's winter training ban after they were spotted holding a practice game on the 3G pitch at Kingspan Breffni Park.

The Breffni County side were caught out by journalists who were leaving the venue after finishing their work on yesterday's Ulster Club SFC final between Crossmaglen Rangers and Naomh Conall.

Practice games are only permitted in the GAA's closed season of November and December if they do not involve players who have lined out for their county's senior team in the past 12 months.

Cavan's senior footballers convened after the provincial club decider to participate in a game which featured a number of the current side, including Cian Mackey and James Reilly.

And Val Andrews and Terry Hyland's troops will be especially disappointed to have been caught out, given that it is believed this was the first occasion for the squad to train collectively since they were eliminated from the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers last summer.

Prior to last night, the new management team of Andrews and Hyland had not had the chance to put the players through their paces.

Rule 6.43 of the GAA's Official Code states that the months of November and December shall be closed months for all games involving inter-county teams and collective training for inter-county panels.

While gym sessions are permitted, only trial games involving development teams - featuring no players from the previous season's panel - are allowed.