CRICKET:CRICKET IRELAND confirmed yesterday that an appeal against a 12-month ban by Limavady and former Ireland player Des Curry for "a number of breaches" of their disciplinary code has been rejected and that the original ruling is upheld.

The ban was handed down to Curry, 44, in relation to incidents in a second-round clash of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup when Limavady played host to Belfast club Instonians on June 11th at the John Hunter Grounds.

In its ruling on June 30th, Cricket Ireland also awarded the tie to Instonians, who went on to beat Railway Union in the quarter-finals of the competition. They will face Phoenix at home in the semi-finals on August 21st.

Meanwhile, Clontarf, Railway Union and Merrion have been made it through to the semi-finals of the NEARfm Twenty20, which will take place at Balrothery on August 14th.