PADDY Tally’s first appeal against a 12-week ban has been turned down at the Central Hearings Committee – although the punishment has been reduced by four weeks.

The Down manager was handed the proposed 12-week sanction as a result of ‘misconduct considered to have discredited the Association’ in relation to the county’s alleged breach of the training ban.

Tally had requested a hearing last night and although the CHC deemed that the infraction proven, the ban was reduced by four weeks.

Tally has the option of appealing further.

The Mourne county had already accepted the punishment of a loss of home advantage for one of their National League games as a result of the incident last month.