THE SIGERSON CUP has been hit with controversy after IT Sligo and Queen’s University have both been thrown out of the third-level football competition.

The sides met in the first round last week with IT Sligo winning the clash in Belfast after extra-time by 1-9 to 0-8. But it has emerged that IT Sligo fielded an ineligible player in the game while Queen’s will not be reinstated as they had three ineligible players in action.

The42 understands that both colleges were informed of the decision today which means as it stands that 2015 weekend hosts UCC won’t have to play a quarter-final match next week and will get a bye straight through to the semi-final on 20 February.

However both IT Sligo and Queen’s University have three days in which to lodge an appeal and it looks likely that they will pursue that course of action.

It is believed that IT Sligo have been hit due to the fact that one of their players is a full-time officer in the college’s student union and that is a breach of third-level GAA rules.

Queens' Ray Connolly and Sligo's Jack Dowling. Source: Presseye/Matt Mackey/INPHO

Queen’s University for their part are being sanctioned due to the fact that three of their players were part of Stranmillis College, which was previously affiliated to Queen’s University but is now separate as they now have their own club which plays in a lower-tier third-level competition.

It’s a setback for the organisers of the competition and they will now hope that the appeals process does not delay the completion of the Sigerson Cup.

In 2008 a row over player eligibility concerning the Garda College saw the competition delayed and the traditional finals weekend did not take place with the decider eventually being held in late April.