GAELIC Life understands that Ballyholland and RGU Downpatrick have today been informed that they will be excluded. pending appeals, from next year’s Down Senior Championship.

The punishment relates to the recent brawl that broke out between the sides in their league meeting in Kilcoo. Correspondence was delivered and both clubs have also received heavy individual punishments too from the Down CCC.

While both clubs were anticipating heavy sanctions, championship exclusion is likely to have taken them both by surprise. Although neither club was in a position to confirm, appeals seem inevitable.