Derry clubs handed lengthy bans

Derry clubs Slaughtneil and Ballinderry have been hit with record sanctions by their county board following the ugly scenes at…

Derry clubs Slaughtneil and Ballinderry have been hit with record sanctions by their county board following the ugly scenes at last weekend's county final.

Slaughtneil have been hit the hardest, having been banned from all senior, reserve and under-21 football matches for a period of six months. And when that ban expires, all games must be played at the home of their opponents for a further six months.

Slaughtneil players Frances and Fergal McEldowney, Michael McEldowney and Michael Rogers were handed 48-week bans while club members Raymond McCluskey and Danny McMullan were suspended for 96 weeks.

Paul Devlin, a member of the Ballinderry management team, was banned for two years and it is understood that further punishments could be meted out to Ballinderry players.

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After a series of incidents during the game at Celtic Park, the occasion was marred by a large melee involving players, club members and supporters after the final whistle.