Gaelic Games Central Disciplinary Committee: Peter Canavan and Stephen O'Neill were officially exonerated yesterday of any wrong doing by the Central Disciplinary Committee (CDC), despite both being sent off in the Ulster football final replay on July 23rd, but the whole debacle has left a sour taste in the mouth of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte.

Harte feels the decisions are no compensation to Tyrone football, as the dismissal of their two most valuable forwards in the closing stages of last Saturday's game had detrimental consequences.

Tyrone were three points clear and in control, but subsequently lost after conceding five points in the final eight minutes.

"Some things you just can't fix," said Harte. "Their names have been cleared and, true, justice has been done, but that still didn't afford these players the chance to play in the final part of a very important game. We will never know the impact they could have had.

"I can't say with certainty that it would have changed the result, but it certainly affected the result. I'm not pleased it happened in the first place and this is late justice for the two players."

The fallout from the replay had further consequences for Tyrone yesterday, as they look set to lose Ryan McMenamin to suspension.

In a new departure in disciplinary procedures, the CDC have called McMenamin and Armagh's Ciarán McKeever to answer charges of foul play, despite both players' indiscretions being dealt with at the time by referee Michael Collins.

Collins showed McMenamin a yellow card, and moved the ball forward a couple of yards, after he fouled and then dropped his knee on John McEntee. McKeever was sent off for a second yellow card after the melee that led to the red card for Canavan.

"In fairness to Ciarán McKeever it appears that the incident was dealt with on the field with a yellow card," said Joe Kernan. "We're disappointed, but when we see the report we will know more and will duly put a case forward after that."

CDC chairman Con Hogan said this week: "We don't tend to act if the referee has already acted. I'm not saying never, but as a general rule we tend not to revisit it."

The CDC has taken a different stance to the Cork referee on crucial decisions. The two red cards he produced were rescinded, the yellow cards shown to McKeever and McMenamin are potentially considered more serious offences and another Armagh player, Paul McGrane, has also been charged over another incident.

McGrane's indiscretion is most likely for striking a Tyrone player when Collins was close by. The referee did not punish McGrane, but did award a free and cautioned another Armagh player.

Referees committee spokesperson Fr Séamus Gardiner had no comment to make regarding the decisions, but did say the referees committee were yet to discuss any actions by the CDC.

Both Kernan and Harte hope the player hearings can take place next week so they can plan accordingly if anyone is suspended or have enough time to appeal any decision through the necessary channels.

"It would not be prudent to pre-empt anything, but (an early hearing) is the least we deserve considering what has gone on in recent times," added Harte.

Such a luxury is not available to Mayo who have only heard official confirmation about the four-week suspension of forward Trevor Mortimer, arising from an incident on July 10th.

The suspension will be up next week - just over a week after the backdated ban was handed down - much to the anger of the Mayo management who do not have much time to appeal.

"The timing of this decision is crazy," said selector George Golden yesterday. "It is too late for us to do anything. It's now Thursday and our next match is in 48 hours (against Cavan).

"So what can we do? We are very disappointed with Croke Park for allowing us to prepare for Cavan with Trevor involved, but to then pull the rug from under us. It is a terrible decision.

"It would have been nice to know seven or eight days ago. Trevor has been central to our preparations."

Mayo county board secretary Seán Feeney also confirmed an appeal is unlikely, but will be watching closely the action taken by the CDC in the coming weeks to ensure a level of consistency is upheld.

"What concerned me is they have brought in fellas before (Tomás Ó Sé) and released them without suspension. We'll see how they deal with those drafted in from the Ulster final. We'll hold our powder until then."