Cavan side banned for referee incident

Cavan club side Ballinagh have been suspended for six months by the county's Competition Control Committee after another "unsavory…

Cavan club side Ballinagh have been suspended for six months by the county's Competition Control Committee after another "unsavory" moment which saw a referee being struck on the final whistle of a league game against Killygarry last week.

Three players and four supporters, including Brian Reilly who struck referee Gerry Sheridan, were suspended for their involvement in the physical and verbal abuse aimed at the referee in Ballinagh.

Ballinagh's Adrian Maguire and Darragh McCarthy were banned for 12 and eight weeks respectively, while Killygarry's Thomas Leonard was banned for four weeks.

Maguire and Leonard had both been sent-off during the match and McCarthy was punished for verbal abuse during and after the game which Killygarry won by five points.

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"After the referee's detailed report was submitted on Friday evening, four supporters were also handed suspensions," explained Mark Gillick, Cavan PRO.

"One supporter was banned for four weeks, two were banned for eight weeks, another received 24 weeks for aggressive behaviour, while the individual who struck the referee was banned for 96 weeks."

Cavan's Competition Control Committee moved quickly by meeting on Friday night after they received Sheridan's report. They met again on Saturday before handing out the suspensions.

"The whole thing was a very unsavory incident," added Gillick, referring to the abuse retired Garda sergeant and former Cavan county player Sheridan received.

The decision rules Ballinagh out of the Cavan SFC and league but it is understood the club will appeal the decision.
 
Ballinagh were involved in a similar incident earlier in the year when an official was struck by a supporter when the side played Fingal Ravens in January. That matter was dealt with by Croke Park at the time.