UUJ panelist Colm Cavanagh decided to play for Tyrone

Initially, the Ulster Council opted on Tuesday evening to defer the game but this decision was later changed.

This followed an undertaking from Tyrone that the university players at the centre of the controversy would not be played in Saturday's game.

However, the Tyrone county board will contest the Ulster Council charge.

The Ulster Council competition controls committee took the decision to charge Tyrone at specially convened meeting.

Competition rules state that colleges have first call on players.

It is not clear when the hearing to decide Tyrone's fate will take place.

Tyrone made it two wins from two outings in the McKenna Cup last Sunday when they defeated Derry but their attempt to retain the title has been placed in jeopardy by the ongoing Ulster Council probe.

Manager Mickey Harte has been on a collision course with the council since it emerged that a number of students had joined his squad, in spite of the council directive.

It's unfortunate they have to make a call because the fact is that they could rule themselves out of the Sigerson Cup panel St Mary's College manager Paddy Tally

On Sunday at Healy Park he handed starting slots to the four players concerned, UUJ trio Colm Cavanagh, Brendan Boggs and Damien McCaul, and Cathal McCarron of St Mary's.

Harte remained defiant over his decision to include the students, claiming they had made their own decisions to opt for the county squad.

St Mary's manager Paddy Tally has warned that McCarron's decision to go with Tyrone could affect his chances of making the Sigerson Cup team.

"It's unfortunate they have to make a call because the fact is that they could rule themselves out of the Sigerson Cup panel," he said.

"This is the time they are preparing for that competition and really they are setting themselves back on their colleagues in the college but that seems to me the way it's heading in this case."

One possible outcome is that the defending champions will be docked points for their controversial stance.

Tyrone will meet Cavan in the final and decisive Group B tie under lights at Breffni Park, with the winners set to go through to the semi-finals, although the section's outcome has now been thrown into doubt.