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Dromore manager handed 72-week ban

Noel McGinn has been handed a massive 72-week suspension
Noel McGinn has been handed a massive 72-week suspension

Dromore manager Noel McGinn has been hit with a 72-week ban as a result of incidents during Sunday's Tyrone SFC final against Clonoe.

And both clubs have had €500 fines imposed in the wake of the disturbance which marred the county's showpiece occasion.

A statement from the county board stressed that the penalties are proposed punishments, and can be appealed within three days.

McGinn head-butted a member of the Clonoe squad during a melee which broke out immediately after the end of normal time.

Two Clonoe players and a selector have also been banned.

Defender Emmet Teague, who seconds later head-butted McGinn, was suspended for 32 weeks, while Colm Doris received an eight-week ban.

Both will miss the newly crowned champions' Ulster Club Championship campaign, which starts on Sunday with a first round tie against Donegal champions St Eunan's.

Selector Harry McClure, a former Tyrone midfielder, had a 12-week suspension imposed.

Dromore goalkeeper Peter Ward received an eight week suspension for his part in the disturbance which marred an otherwise sporting decider, which Clonoe won by a point after extra-time.

Emmet O'Neill of Dromore, who was sent off following an unrelated incident, was also suspended for eight weeks.

The Tyrone County Board's Competitions Control Committee moved quickly to deal with the situations, and the hefty bans had been widely anticipated after TG4 pictures highlighted the incidents during Sunday's live coverage, and were later screened by other television channels.

Dromore will now have to look for a new manager to replace McGinn, who has been the most successful in the club's history.

The former Tyrone senior player guided the St Dympna's to three Division One league titles and to three successive SFC finals, winning the club's first ever senior championship title last season.

Teague and Doris will be serious losses to Clonoe in the club's first Ulster Club Championship tie in 17 years.

Teague was one of the stars of last Sunday's title triumph, having been assigned to the job of shadowing Dromore's top forward Colm McCullagh, and holding the Tyrone All-Ireland winning star scoreless from play. Doris has been an effective playmaking centre forward who played a major role in this season's title success.

Sunday's game, which has been switched from Omagh to Coalisland, will be Clonoe's fourth championship game on successive weekends.

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