Longford champions Killoe Young Emmets have been hit with a 48-week ban over failure to pay a €750 fine that was imposed by the Longford GAA Hearings Committee back in February.
The club now faces the prospect of playing no matches from u-16 level up to senior until the summer of 2021 should the ban be fully implemented, according to the Longford Leader.
The fine was imposed as a result of Killoe not fielding a team in an U-16 match against St Colmcille's/St Francis last January.
Killoe Young Emmets are reported to have contacted the county board prior to the game, stating that they would not be fulfilling the fixture.
The club have said that they will appeal the penalty. The appeal will be held by the Leinster GAA Hearings Committee.
"Emmet Og GAA Club and everyone attached to the Killoe club are extremely angry at the rigid application of the rules in this instance, which has given no regard to the upheaval and challenges that the Covid-19 global pandemic has caused to all sectors of our society, in particular to voluntary organisations like the GAA," said Gerry Hagan, Killoe club chairman.
Killoe opened the defence of their county title with a victory over Clonguish last Friday. They're set to play Mostrim on 21 August.
