Tyrone fotball GAA stripped of McKenna Cup

County Tyrone must hand back the McKenna Cup after the Ulster Council found they broke competition rules in the final against Donegal last month. The controversy arose after Tyrone played two students in the decider, neither of whom who among the 15 on the teamsheet. The council found that the teamsheet didn't comply with the rule: "The first 15 names appearing on a list shall be taken as constituting the actual team". Under the rules the "failure to provide a list of players as specified" is "forfeiture of game, without award for the opposing team, or a fine, depending on the circumstances"

Tyrone beat Donegal 2-9 to 0-5 in the final at Healy Park on 17 February.

The county had points deducted for fielding four university players against Derry in the group stage of the competition. Red Hands boss Mickey Harte remains defiant in his stance that college players should be able to play for their counties in the McKenna Cup. "I'm more disappointed than surprised by this decision. Given the competition was complete and the final didn't involve any of the colleges I thought the the degree of controversy which had existed was not there. We're all big enough in the association to put this behind us and I hope common sense prevails. "I've no regrets - the players wanted to try out for Tyrone and I think it is good for their careers at their colleges and with the county. I think it's every player's right to give their best for his county when the opportunity presents itself." He added: "I'm going to talk to the administrators in the county. If they feel there is a case to appeal then I've no doubt they'll do it. We're all big enough in the association to put this behind us and I hope common sense prevails, that perhaps this decision can be overturned and maybe we can get things sorted for next year. I wouldn't give up hope on it yet - it is a bad looking situation but we've been in places before that have been able to be rectified and I'm sure this can be too."

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Tyrone fotball GAA stripped of McKenna Cup