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O'Neill got off on a technicality (not an official GAA video) and Murphy and Grugan weren't even cited as it wasn't on camera. Armagh have received the heavier punishment by far here.
To try and pick out culprits from a melee based on video footage is never going to deliver genuine justice. A melee should mean suspensions (where the culprits are clear) and where they're not then a team punishment should be enforced. Eg: 0-3 down at start of next game, manager banished from touchline, no substitutes allowed in next game, loose next home game and play at away venue instead. Maybe a combination of these.

The GAA are not good in this area and need to catch a grip on discipline especially these half baked rows of headlocks and holding each others jerseys etc. Genuine punishment is the only way to end it.

Agree, I've no doubt the media coverage post match, and the narrative pinned on Armagh led to such a rush to get more cited or suspended they didn't manage to follow procedure.

It sounds like Armagh's representatives easily won the O'Neill appeal, which says a lot about the CCCC in my opinion.

Hopefully everyone moves onto football now, and every team entering the championship is treated with the same consistency. If the media do decide to highlight a certain team, more than others the hope is CCCC will take a step back, assess everything that needs assessing and then use their procedures if required, instead of rushing to what the media thinks happened which time will show was a rushed, reactive intervention to begin with.

Bit of a farce when the only player who is clearly caught on camera striking gets off. Puts the pressure back on armagh now as they don't have an excuse if they fail to beat Donegal.

Would expect the other ones to get off as there wasn't as much evidence for them as there was for Rian.

Didn't follow procedure when suspending O'Neill. His appeal was over in seconds.

What was the procedure. I thought the ccc gave him a suspension when they looked at the video evidence but may be wrong on that.

We might not be told, but as many commented Armagh were always going to challenge this whole procedure, and when you're honest and look at the punishments handed out and the impact it would of had on their competiveness they're totally right to do so.

They've obviously found something and won one appeal. It'll be interesting to see with the other three, and if they keep challenging the process if unsuccessful with those. O'Neill being cleared is a huge success for them and goes someway to at least making the game somewhat more competitive than it was going to be.

Here's an idea. Why not get Armagh to represent Ireland in the International Rules series? McGeeney and McKeever's brand of thuggery can be let loose on the Aussies and see how they get on.

And to improve Ireland's medal record in the World Championships or Olympic games, can we let Tyrone represent Ireland in the diving please? 😉

Just like the team, the supporters are imploding.

Perhaps its pressure of being in Division 1.
Perhaps its the pressure of winning so few games in Ulster in the last 10 years.

But I have never seen such crying and yapping because players are suspended for a game.

Its quite delicious to watch

Lol, the whole carry on has certainly got people talking 😀. As for the football, it's a long time since I've seen a team promoted from years in the lower divisions to instantly look comfortable in Division 1 especially when you think of teams like Cavan/Roscommon who go up and down, or Meath who struggled.

Armagh have to bring this into the championship arena and show the potential many think they have, but for the wider GAA and football landscape it's good to see teams coming through. This season it'll have to be through the qualifers, but I wouldn't want to draw them in those with a full team back. I'd say they'd love a second championship game with Donegal later in the season.

I'd be interested to know when the last time a team had 4 players suspended for a championship match. I can't think of any in recent memory, it is unprecedented and totally disproportionate to the incident involved.

Armagh have been very very quiet on the whole incident - there has been nobody from the team management, the county board or former players putting forward any degree of protestations. I'm not sure if it is because of the GPA ban but you would like to think that they are doing everything to defend these players in the background because they haven't had much support in the media since the incident.

When was the last time a team had 4 suspended for a league game prior to Tyrone?

On O'Neill, a lot of hype about him but what are his actual scoring contributions from play?

To be fair, he'd start on every inter county team in the country including Kerry, Dublin and Tyrone this season, never mind the next two or three seasons as he develops.

I believe armagh should exhaust the appeals process right through to the DRA as this will get to the bottom of the decision regarding Rian and how he was the only one cited on video evidence .

I'd say it's a given Armagh will take this to the DRA at the very least; it might even go further especially when the legal eyes get deep into the process. Armagh have effectively been taken out of the Ulster Championship so don't have a lot to lose pushing it to the legal/appeal limit.

Well it can't go further in order to take a case to the DRA you must agree to be bound by the verdict of the DRA. As Wobbler says it's harder to challenge cases to that level now but I don't agree with the assessment that is only the two types of cases wobbler has cited. That said even thinking about the DRA at this stage is putting the cart before the horse there's a long way to go yet I hope.

It strikes me as shambolic though that no one seems to actually know what offence these players are facing. Some here are speculating it's a category iii infraction for contributing to a melee. Others saying it's category iv. I think fans are entitled to know what exactly is being alleged. Particularly if as is being alleged the GAA want to cut out this sort of thing.

True, but the lawyers will know already and are likely as we text going through the charges and process with a forensic eye. Lets hope the championship isn't impacted by legal/appeal issues, but and I might be wrong, I think Armagh will challenge this. Making GAA units be bound by a DRA decision is only a GAA rule, this could always be challenged in a legal sense if the will was there.

I believe armagh should exhaust the appeals process right through to the DRA as this will get to the bottom of the decision regarding Rian and how he was the only one cited on video evidence .

I'd say it's a given Armagh will take this to the DRA at the very least; it might even go further especially when the legal eyes get deep into the process. Armagh have effectively been taken out of the Ulster Championship so don't have a lot to lose pushing it to the legal/appeal limit.

The media has nothing to do with this folks. You're clutching at straws and confusing the GAA with soccer.

It's all about the referee's report. And once a hearing was requested then it was open season.

How come the same scrutiny wasn't applied to the Kerry v Dublin game?? But sure northern bias isn't a thing........

Watched the Kerry v Dublin melee there, as regards category 4 infractions there was a world of difference between what happened there and the other 2 melees. Pushing and jersey pulling. No headlock or punches as far as I could see.

Yes but the charge againt the Tyrone and Armagh players now was 'contributing to a melee'. The strikes is a different charge, it's bizarre nobody in the Kerry/Dublin melee was charged with 'contributing to a melee'. There is finally some comments about consistency in some aspects of the media, those with a narrative of some bias has some evidence in my opinion when you study the charges or lack of in the three melees. I never wanted to believe it but there is a problem that needs looking at.

'contributing to a melee', is this from the refs report or what the media are typing? All the suspensions so far have been as a result of cat 4 infractions. Plenty in 2 of the melee's, none in the Kerry / Dublin melee.

I might be incorrect, but my reading of the Tyrone, Donegal and Armagh initial bans were Cat 2 offences 'contributing to a melee'. The strike charge would be different, if true that means the charges given on just contributing to a melee is no different to most of those involved in Dublin/Kerry game.

The media has nothing to do with this folks. You're clutching at straws and confusing the GAA with soccer.

It's all about the referee's report. And once a hearing was requested then it was open season.

How come the same scrutiny wasn't applied to the Kerry v Dublin game?? But sure northern bias isn't a thing........

Watched the Kerry v Dublin melee there, as regards category 4 infractions there was a world of difference between what happened there and the other 2 melees. Pushing and jersey pulling. No headlock or punches as far as I could see.

Yes but the charge againt the Tyrone and Armagh players now was 'contributing to a melee'. The strikes is a different charge, it's bizarre nobody in the Kerry/Dublin melee was charged with 'contributing to a melee'. There is finally some comments about consistency in some aspects of the media, those with a narrative of some bias has some evidence in my opinion when you study the charges or lack of in the three melees. I never wanted to believe it but there is a problem that needs looking at.

Armagh are shafted? Oh the irony, you didn't do much complaining when Tyrone got 4 men banned. I genuinely be looking at how stupid Armagh were to get involved after Tyrone. The manager sorta got for, all in, then its hard to pick players out. Guess what, we're now picking players out from Ref Reports and what TV footage is available so tough shit. If you gonna get involved take your medicine. Some guys may get off, not been picked up by either criteria above, but I think long term it go to cut this crap out. On another matter deliberate striking should be a, 2 match ban at least. The 2 of you's need worry anyway I couldn't see either Team beat Tyrone for the Ulster championship.

What a bitter post you have some chip on your shoulder kid.

He makes a valid point though. We're the Armagh players and managment not smart enough not to get I involved in any brawls after the last time.

After the tyrone bans I said that any more brawls tyrone got involved in regardless of blame would go against them. Same for Armagh. How they failed to learn from this is beyond me.

I'd agree, they shouldn't have got involved, but where they set up? I'm not sure of the answer, but when the media are known to go for certain counties this leaves them very vulnerable from opposition teams. I think there is an issue in the media regards Armagh and Tyrone, going back twenty years and I think this finally sticks in places.

I fear we're seeing another example of it this season, it's hard to know what stance they can take to highlight the unfairness of it. Someone mentioned sending a second string to Ballybofey, maybe then announce the plan to do so in advance, so their fans, media know that is the plan before they buy tickets.

We have to be fair here, the media coverage of three melee's this season makes it obvious how media reports certain counties, the GAA need to react to incidents but they need to ensure everyone feels fairly treated at the same time, they're currently failing.

Personally, I'd rather Donegal face a full strength Armagh. If we lose, we lose. But if the video shows O'Neill (or anyone else, whether Murphy or whoever) striking, then it has to be dealt with.

Murphy totally got away with it. O'Neills arm lift is at most just that.

If it was an "arm lift at most" I'm sure he'll do just fine with his appeal.

It wasn't a punch Murphys was a cowardly attack. Even Peter the Great has yet to see a punch in the video.

https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2022/04/05/news/peter-canavan-has-sympathy-for-banned-players-with-rian-o-neill-cited-2633722/

A very fair and balanced article, I think we need to see more of this honesty. The fact Kerry and Dublin got away with a melee, yet others had the book thrown at them opens a lot of questions. In my opinion the GAA need to step back and tell everyone what the criteria is for punishing players, as currently it's unclear and unfair on teams the media decide to go after, before we question how certain players can be picked out. We run the risk of teams with a reputation within the media being targeted by opposition teams to get them involved in some form of melee, as it's likely that team with the reputation will be more harshly treated.

As a football fan, I, like many others look forward to competitive championship games, the sort that are battles from start to finish but those kind of games are now few and far between. It's disappointing we're now unlikely to see that type of match in Ballybofey following all this.

My view on it, is if players are seen to strike and there is evidence to prove it then it's difficult for the disciplinary bodies/referee to ignore it. I don't subscribe to the view of bias in the GAA amongst media, bodies etc and I like to think everybody is treated in a fair manner.

However those who provide that narrative to be fair might have some grounds when it comes to this charge of "contributing to a melee". We seen three melees in Division 1 this season - Tyrone/Armagh, Donegal/Armagh and Kerry/Dublin.

Now strikes are a different charge but in regards two of those melees the referee, GAA media and disciplinary bodies came down very hard on teams involved, with this 'contributing to a melee', yet with one of the melees it hardly got a mention, and certainly no follow up action.

It is strange and if we're honest it should be a concern. As for the latest melee, I'm not sure of depth but it would be very difficult for any county to lose four key players for a championship game and it not have a significant impact. That is why I think it unlikely we'll have the same type of championship match and Donegal on paper at least should see themselves home by the end.

As for the rest of the season, whoever it impacts the GAA have to be seen to be extrembly strict with any sort of melee and take players through the disciplinary procedures, because they have effectlvely taken a team out of their provincial championship before it begins so this type of intervention has to be consistent, which I'm not sure it was in the league.

Kerry's forward play was excellent but it's the improvement in defence, that makes them look almost certs for the All Ireland.