County final called off

Date Published: 03-Nov-2009

NEXT Sunday’s rescheduled county senior hurling decider has been called off indefinitely as the fallout from the controversial semifinal clash between Mullagh and Loughrea rumbles on.

County Hurling Board Secretary John Fahey confirmed that Galway’s showpiece event would not take place this weekend at Pearse Stadium, with “ongoing issues arising from the Mullagh and Loughrea game” cited as the reason behind the Board’s decision.

Already, the county final – originally scheduled for Sunday, October 25 – had been deferred after Loughrea sought and were granted a postponement of their semifinal tie on October 11.

However, the fallout from that re-fixed semi-final – which resulted in three Mullagh players receiving 48 week suspensions after referee Christy Helebert reported them for assault – has had far reaching implications.

Although the manner of the one-point defeat initially incensed Mullagh’s playersand supporters, the severity of the bans, including one-month suspensions for two mentors, has spurred Mullagh to pursue other possibilities by which to exonerate the club.

It is understood that Mullagh will accept the outcome of their 0-16 to 0-15 injury time defeat to Loughrea, albeit reluctantly, should the sentences handed down, in particularly to the three players who received 48- week suspensions, be reduced. T

he suspended Mullagh players and mentors will have their cases reviewed by the Hearings Committee of the County Hurling Board tonight (Tuesday), after which the club will consider its position. It is understood that if the suspensions as they stand are upheld, then the club will look to take their appeal further.

“We have to await the outcome of Mullagh’s deliberations,” said Hurling Board Secretary Fahey. “The club are having a meeting on Wednesday night, and we have to wait to see what they will do. Mullagh are meeting with the Hearings Committee on Tuesday night, so I suppose they will be discussing whatever arises out of that on Wednesday.”

Mullagh have a week from yesterday (Monday, November 2) to lodge an appeal, but with their side of the case only being heard by the Hearings Committee of the County Board tonight, the Hurling Board decided yesterday to postpone the final rather than have it shrouded in uncertainty.

“Mullagh have until Friday to lodge an appeal with the DRA (Disputes Resolution Authority). So, there would be no point fixing the county final for Sunday if Mullagh decided to lodge an appeal on Friday,” continued Fahey, who conceded no other date had been fixed.

Meanwhile, Mullagh’s appeal to have the semi-final fixture declared null and void by Connacht Council failed on Friday night. Mullagh had argued that the fixture was not valid as suspended Hurling Board Chairman Miko Ryan had presided over that fixtures meeting.

However, the Connacht Council rejected their appeal, determining that the sanction placed on Chairman Ryan was only “a proposed suspension” as Ryan, who subsequently resigned from his position last Wednesday, had not received official confirmation or had an opportunity to appeal.

This matter will also be up for discussion at their club meeting on Wednesday night.