Peter McDonnell

THE ULSTER CCC has thrown the book at the Armagh U20s following their tempestuous Ulster Championship semi-final win over Tyrone last Friday night.

Gaelic Life can reveal that 10 Armagh players, including six starters against Tyrone, have been suspended for their part in an unseemly melee deep into extra-time, and will miss out on next Sunday’s Ulster U20 final against Derry.

Speaking this morning, Armagh U20 manager Peter McDonnell said: “This goes right back to the U20s being used as guinea pigs. Would this happen at senior intercounty level? They would hone in on a couple of people and make an example of them.

“I’m not condoning the melee in any shape of form, it’s not part of our game, but all it took was one rash incident from a Tyrone player and it was a tinderbox.

“Armagh will be represented on Ulster final day and it’s a big occasion for our county. It is a cosmetic excercise now, that is what they have succeeded in doing. It’s just a warm-up for Derry to move onto the next level.”

McDonnell confirmed that they are set to appeal the decision if there are grounds to do so.