ULSTER GAA PROBE VERBAL ABUSE

ULSTER COUNCIL chiefs are set to launch an investigation into Saturday night’s ill-disciplined club clash between Crossmaglen and Coalisland – and bans for verbals are top of the agenda.

A disciplinary probe will take place into the shameful scenes witnessed and heard in the provincial football quarter-final in the Athletic Grounds which both teams finished with 13 players.

Coalisland defender Eoghan Hampsey picked up a straight red card for alleged dissent.

Coalisland’s Brian Toner and Cross duo Callum Cumiskey and Johnny Hannratty were sent-off for reckless second yellow card offences.

However, there were numerous sledging incidents easily heard by the 7,637 crowd in Armagh with Monaghan referee Martin Mcnally, his umpires and linesmen also bearing the brunt of repeated verbals. A steward was also knocked to the ground during the dour battle, won by Crossmaglen by three points.

The referee’s report was due to be submitted and discussed at last night’s scheduled Ulster Council meeting.

Severe sanctions are anticipated, given the Ulster’s Council’s warning to clubs at the launch of the club championships in Slaughtneil several weeks ago.

Speaking at the launch, Ulster Council PRO Michael Geoghegan said: “The message is there’s no place for violence in our games”.

“We want to relaunch that message. There’s no place for violence in our games and we’re going to come down heavy on it.”