By Tommy Nethery
DROMORE manager Noel McGinn has been handed a ban of 72 weeks as punishment for his headbutt on a Clonoe player during Sunday's Tyrone Senior Championship Final at Healy Park.
A scuffle developed as the players left the field at full-time and in the full glare of the TV cameras, the St Dympna's boss was clearly seen headbutting a Clonoe substitute, an act of thuggery that brought similar retaliation from O'Rahilly's defender Emmett Teague.
Both men were in the dock as the Tyrone Competitions Control Committee met on Tuesday evening with the Greencastle school principal and former County player, McGinn getting hammered with the lengthy ban while Teague has been sidelined for 32 weeks for his part in an incident that has once again tarnished the image of the GAA.
Within minutes of a nebulous statement released on behalf of the Tyrone Competitions Control Committee yesterday (Wednesday), which failed to specify the details of the sanctions, the nature of the fines and suspensions had spread like wildfire.
On top of the bans imposed on McGinn and Teague, both clubs were fined £500 apiece. Dromore players Peter Ward and Emmett O'Neill have also been suspended for eight weeks while the O'Rahilly's pair of Colm Doris and assistant manager Harry McClure were slapped with eight and 12-week bans respectively.
The statement issued on behalf of the Tyrone CCC said, "The Tyrone CCC met on Tuesday night to consider the incident which occurred at the end of last Sunday's Senior Football Championship final. Following the meeting, a number of individual suspensions have been recommended and have be issued to both of the clubs involved via email this morning. Both clubs have also been fined. All suspensions and fines may be subject to appeal."
There was a sense of disbelief and shock among the 5,000 plus crowd attending the showpiece final at Healy Park and those watching the live coverage by TG4, when McGinn landed a full-blooded blow to the side of the Clonoe substitute's head sending his victim crashing to the turf.
That inexcusable act provoked retribution from O'Rahilly's half back Teague, who was also caught on camera retaliating with a headbutt.
The incriminating evidence that was swiftly transmitted across TV screens ensured that there was no hiding place for any of the protagonists involved.
Ahead of yesterday's decision, chairman of the Tyrone County Board, Pat Darcy condemned the moment of madness that had dominated the TV sports media during the intervening 48 hours.
He said, "We have to condemn it. Such incidents have no place in the GAA. It doesn't look good when it goes out on TV."
McGinn's ban could well have ended the blossoming managerial career of a man that many had tipped as a future Tyrone manager and a potential candidate as successor to Mickey Harte. The clubs and individuals involved have the right to appeal within three days.
