Down senior football manager Paddy Tally has been proven by the GAA to have engaged in misconduct, but he's had his ban shortened to 8 weeks. 

Tally was originally slapped with a 12-week ban by the Association after the Down squad gathered at Abbey CBS in Newry last month.

The GAA have prohibited collective training during the Level 5 lockdown.

Down had asserted that the assembly of players was merely for the purpose of devising a training schedule for their players.

Tally appealed his 12 week sanction to the GAA's hearings committee and they have taken one month from the punishment, while also proving that misconduct was considered to have discredited the Association.

The Tyrone native can appeal this current sanction to the appeals committee.

The appeal can only be successful where there has been a clear infringement or misapplication of the rule by the hearings committee or the appellants right to a fair hearing has otherwise been compromised to such extent that a clear injustice has occurred.

Down have accepted the loss of home advantage for one fixture.