Tyrone refute claim that death of a player's father was used in sledging
May 22, 2015
MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey. INPHO
Tyrone have denied the claim that one of their players taunted a Donegal minor footballer over the death of his father during the Ulster MFC encounter between the two sides last Sunday in Ballybofey.
The claim was made by both Brendan Devenney and Donegal minor manager Declan Bonner, regarding one of their county men who lost his father to cancer last year. It was alleged that a Tyrone minor taunted his Donegal opponent over his father's passing.
In a statement this evening Tyrone said they have investigated the claim and cleared their own players of any wrong doing.
The Tyrone statement in full reads:
Due to persistent allegations circulating in the media, some of which have been attributed to the Donegal Minor football manager, regarding verbal abuse during the Tyrone v Donegal Ulster Minor Football Championship match, Coiste Contae Thir Eoghain has conducted an investigation, involving its management and players.
As a result of the investigation undertaken it would refute in the strongest possible terms that a comment was made by any of its players to a Donegal player regarding the death of his father in 2014. Tyrone GAA in no way condone 'sledging' and the managers and coaches of all our county teams, from Acadamh Thir Eoghain to Senior, actively discourage this practice.
Tyrone GAA congratulates both Donegal teams on their victories on Sunday in Ballybofey, wishing them well in the remainder of their 2015 campaigns and would express our deepest sympathies to the player on his loss.
