TIERNAN McCann will miss Tyrone’s next two Championship matches for infractions arising from his altercation with Donegal’s Stephen McMenamin in last Saturday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Donegal in Cavan.
With Tyrone trailing in the second half an obviously fired-up McCann uncharacteristically lost his composure and attempted to pull McMenamin’s gumshield out of his mouth.
McCann, who later left the field injured, was charged with the category IV infraction “inflicting injury recklessly” and the category III infraction, “behaving in any way that is dangerous to an opponent”.
The GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee imposed a two-game ban for one offence and a one game ban for the other, but the two punishments are to run concurrently.
Tyrone will not appeal, meaning thatMcCannwill miss Tyrone’s Qualifying round two clash with Longford at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Saturday, June 22 and the round three game, should they win.
The Irish News understands that the Killyclogher wing-back rang McMenamin to apologise for his actions last Saturday. It is understood that McMenamin accepted McCann’s apology for attempting to remove his gumshield and agreed that his alleged ‘stamp’ had been accidental.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner explained yesterday that McMenamin returned to training on Tuesday night and is now looking ahead to the Ulster Championship final against Cavan on June 23.
“I watched it back and as I said at the time if it did happen, then it’s unacceptable and that’s exactly it,” he said.
“It shouldn’t happen on a football field, it shouldn’t happen anywhere but listen it’s been dealt with and Stephen gets on with it.
“It has no place in football and I’m sure there was no-one more disappointed than Tiernan McCann himself on Saturday evening.’’
