Galway intermediate football final in doubt over possible appeal by Oileáin Árann

UNCERTAINTY continues to reign in the Galway Intermediate Football Championship as the weekend approaches with the county final fixture between Claregalway and Williamstown at 1pm on Saturday at Pearse Stadium still in doubt.

If the Oileáin Árann club decides to appeal a decision of the Connacht Council’s Hearings Committee taken at the weekend – in which the appeal of the islands club to the outcome of their semi-final tie against Williamstown was thrown out – then Saturday’s county final will not be going ahead.

Williamstown defeated Oileáin Árann after extra-time in the semi-final of the Galway Intermediate Championship on Sunday, October 8, by 4-13 to 2-18, in a replayed tie at Pearse Stadium that went to extra-time, seemingly earning the North Galway side a place in the county final against Claregalway.

However, the following week, Oileáin Árann, lodged an objection as regards that match, on the basis that Williamstown allegedly played an ineligible player who came on in the closing minutes of normal time in that semi-final.

Oileáin Árann contended that Feeney had played competitive football in America earlier this Summer, in the process making him ineligible to play for Williamstown in this year’s championship. The allegation has been denied by the Williamstown club.

The first hearing of the case involved the County Competition Control Committee (CCCC) who ruled in favour of the islands club, but Williamstown then appealed that ruling to the Hearings Committee of the Galway County Board.

That Committee is understood to have heard evidence from the Williamstown club, and after doing so, they allowed ‘the result on the field of play’ to stand.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.