GAA

Tyrone County Board throw book at Urney

THE Disciplinary Committee of the Tyrone County Board have come down heavily on local club Urney St Columba's following an investigation into their league fixture with Augher in October.

The board have ordered that the club's home pitch be closed to adult fixtures for the duration of 2007, meaning that all the clubs league games will have to be played at away or neutral venues, as well as dishing out lengthy suspensions to four Urney players.

The bad-tempered game, played at Urney's home pitch, exploded into an ugly free-for-all, with the referee forced to consider abandoning the fixture.

Patrick Logue, Stephen Maxwell and Jonathan Lafferty were each suspended for a period of 32 weeks for their involvement in a melee, while midfielder Ronan Lafferty has been suspended for 48 weeks, the heaviest of the bans.

An Urney spokesperson confirmed that their club would be appealing the suspensions and measures handed down.

Two Augher senior players, Aiden McElroy and Sean McCaughey, have also been handed 32 week suspensions arising from the match. The disciplinary committee cleared Augher's Kevin McElroy of any offence.