QUEEN’S University have been hit by proposed 12-week suspensions for manager James McCartan and key forward Ciaran O’Hanlon amid another Sigerson Cup controversy.
The GAA’s Higher Education authorities had also proposed to kick Queen's out of the tournament, but CHC overturned that decision on Saturday.
It’s understood that the row once more centres on the eligibility of students attending Stranmillis University College to play for Queen’s.
Armagh forward O’Hanlon, along with Marty Clarke and Gregory McCabe, were alleged to have been ineligible when they played against Maynooth in their first round clash last week.
All three were hit with proposed suspensions, but McCabe’s was overturned on appeal to the Central Hearings Committee (CHC) on Saturday, while Clarke’s case was adjourned because of a medical issue.
O’Hanlon, along with McCartan and chairman Michael Cunningham, did not attend Saturday’s hearings.
Their failure to “provide a reasonable explanation for their non-attendance” – according to a CHC statement released today - meant that the proposed 12-week penalties handed down by Higher Education GAA were upheld.
It means James McCartan and chairman Cunningham's proposed 12-week suspensions from Higher Education competitions stand.
The Queen’s GAA secretary Fiachra McGoldrick also had his 12-week suspension overturned on appeal.
