Glentoran players hit with lengthy bans ahead of European play-offs
Glentoran's European play-off hopes have suffered a major blow after three key players were hit with lengthy bans following the unsavoury scenes at the end of their league game against Larne last Saturday.
Scuffles broke out on the Inver Park pitch following the goalless draw which secured the hosts runners-up spot in the Irish Premiership with players and staff from both clubs caught up in the melee.
As a result eight individuals have been handed bans with Glentoran's Dylan Connolly receiving the most severe punishment with a 12-match suspension.
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Fellow Glens players, Fuad Sule and Christie Pattisson, have been suspended for nine matches each along with Larne duo Aaron Donnelly and Conor McKendry.
Paul O'Neill will also miss the next six games for the Invermen while Glentoran director Paul Millar and club physio Declan O'Donnell have been suspended for five and six matches respectively.
With Larne's campaign now over their players will have to wait until next season to commence their ban.
For Glentoran though they will be without their suspended stars for Wednesday night's play-off semi-final against either either Cliftonville or Crusaders depending on the result of Saturday's Irish Cup final.
They will take another game off the suspension if they progress to next Sunday's final with the remaining games to be served at the start of next season.
Declan Devine will also be without midfielder Joe Thomson for Wednesday night's crucial game due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
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