Aghyaran and Greencastle promotion confusion

GREENCASTLE’S promotion to the senior ranks in Tyrone for the 2022 season is now in doubt following a decision last week by the county’s Competitions Control Committee.

The St Patrick’s clinched the Division Two league title at the end of last year following a dramatic final day of action. Their win over Kildress, combined with a shock defeat for Aghyaran against relegation-threatened Killeeshil, saw Greencastle leap-frog the St Davog’s to the title.

The Tyrone CCC has now withdrawn the two points from Greencastle from the win over Kildress, ensuring that it’s Aghyaran who instead remain in the top position and take the title and with it the much sought-after promotion.

But it has now emerged that the decision as to which of Greencastle or Aghyaran actually takes their place in Division One this year looks set to be finally determined through the GAA’s disciplinary procedures.

The Herald understands that the Tyrone CCC was asked to investigate the Greencastle lineout in their win over Kildress. Video evidence – which sources say was posted on social media – is believed to have been used to identify an ineligible player on the Greencastle team.

However, the footage which purports to show the player in question in action during the game is understood to be unclear. It is believed that the video was not official and the Tyrone CCC Regulations governing the All-County League are quite clear in relation to the recording of fixtures.

The Regulations for 2021 state that ‘Clubs wishing to video-record an official league fixture must obtain permission from CCC.

Approval would be granted on the understanding that the CCC would be provided with a copy of the recording if requested.

They must inform the opposition of the recording and copy provided if requested. A Club, or individual, not involved in the fixture does not have any right to undertake a video-recording.”

Tyrone competition bye-laws stipulate that permission must be granted prior to a match being recorded, and the belief is that this was not the case in connection with the relevant footage which has been used to strip Greencastle of the title. It is not known what other evidence the CCC have based their decision on. The Greencastle player, who is alleged to have lined out against the rules, is not being named because of his age. He was still an U-17 player when he is alleged to have lined out in the game and under GAA rules, U-17 players cannot line out at adult level.

As a result, the CCC took the decision to award the points to Aghyaran, leaving Greencastle to face Division Two football again in 2022 and see their manager, Sean Teague, and the player facing suspensions from the date of the game.

It is understood that St Patrick’s will now lodge an appeal to the Ulster Council against the decision to award the points to Aghyaran. A date for that appeal is set to be issued within the next few weeks.