Ballyholland and Downpatrick win appeals and can play in Down championship

Ballyholland Harps and RGU Downpatrick will both be allowed to compete in next year's Down Senior Football Championship after winning their appeal with the Down Competitions Control Committee (CCC).

The CCC originally proposed that both clubs should be excluded from the 2019 championship after footage emerged of a car park brawl between both clubs but the committee later reduced the club's suspensions to 24 weeks, effective immediately. https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/1049023027168641025 Downpatrick won the match 1-11 to 1-8 but the game was marred by scenes of violence that saw players from both sides leave the pitch to fight near the car park with supporters and onlookers also appearing to be involved. The revised suspension will rule both clubs out of competition until the second week of May which means they will now most likely miss some league games. The Down Senior Football Championship generally commences in the last week of July, or in the first or second week of August, meaning that both clubs should have ample time to prepare for next year's championship upon their reinstatement. The story was originally reported by Neil Loughran of The Irish News and confirmed to SportsJOE by Sean Og McAteer, secretary for Down GAA. McAteer also confirmed that three players (two from Ballyholland, one from Downpatrick) were also handed 24 week bans for their part in the brawl.