Updated 17.30pm
ARMAGH TRIO ANDY Mallon, Brendan Donaghy and Kieran Toner have failed in a last-ditch attempt to overturn one-match bans after the parade brawl in their recent Ulster quarter-final against Cavan.
The trio’s appeals to the GAA’s Central Appeals Committee were considered last night but were rejected. The players had made written submissions so neither they, nor the CHC or CCCC, were in attendance.
The Armagh players had previously appealed the suspensions to the GAA’s Central Hearings Committee last Friday night but were unsuccessful there. They will now miss out on Saturday’s Ulster senior football semi-final against Monaghan.
Last week it emerged that Cavan had chosen to accept the bans they incurred from the brawl which had lead to Martin Dunne and Feargal Flanagan receiving suspensions.
Both counties received 5,000 euro fines after the incident but Boylesports bookmakers offered to foot the bill that Armagh faced.
The loss of three players is a setback to Armagh manager Paul Grimley with Mallon and Donaghy are key components in their defence while Toner started at midfield against Cavan.