Time for Mountbellew Moylough to take their beating

Date Published: {J}

IT’S straying into dangerous territory when publicly commenting on a controversy between two clubs which is now holding the Galway senior football championship to ransom, but that doesn’t prevent us from trying to reflect public opinion on a protracted dispute which is now back to where it started – almost three months later.

Let’s first wind the clock back. At the end of May, Micheál Breathnach’s took on Mountbellew/Moylough in the second round of the county championship at Pearse Stadium. It was a tight struggle but when last year’s county finalists led by two points 12 minutes from the end, they were expected to complete their expected victory over the Connemara men.

Breathnach’s have tended to produce tough and honest teams over the years, but lacking the in-depth class to compete strongly for county honours. Few neutrals gave them real hope of pulling off a shock result against Mountbellew, but they fought like demons with late points from Fiach Ó Bearra and Cian Ó Griallais sparking understandable scenes of wild celebrations after recording a 1-11 to 0-12 victory.

Within a few days, however, the local GAA bush telegraph was getting wind of a potential Mountbellew objection and, sure enough, the north Galway club launched an appeal to the local Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) over the legality of a Breathnach’s player.

We wondered had the Gaeltacht side imported an outsider and played him under a pseudonym or fielded someone who was working in the area for the summer? It had to be a grave offence to warrant such extreme action.

Surely, as was to transpire, Mountbellew weren’t basing their objection against a young footballer who had been playing with Breathnach’s since U-14 level, had transferred from the neighbouring parish of Na Piarsaigh and only came on as a substitute in that controversial match in the 46th minute. Sadly, they were, and all on the basis that Tommy Conneely was not registered to line out at adult level with their opponents.

In my view, it’s the most minor of technicalities, but some individuals in Mountbellew obviously saw the matter differently and have been involved in boardroom appeals and objections ever since as the matter has bounced back and forth between the Galway County Board and Connacht Council before ending up with the DRA last week. I’ve always had serious reservations about this body and that view was confirmed again in their handling of this case.

The DRA regrettably didn’t make a ruling on the substantive issue, but rather got bogged down in the technicalities of the various hearings at county and provincial level. The net result now is that Mountbellew’s objection has to be heard all over again, starting with the Galway CCC which will have to be comprised of different personnel this time. It’s gone beyond a joke with genuine fears that the Galway football championship could be delayed by months.

Already, Salthill Knocknacarra and Milltown have reached the semi-finals, while Claregalway face a quarter-final replay against Corofin, but the ‘fourth side’ of the title race is obviously way behind schedule and, frankly, in a mess. It’s not fair on the other clubs and nor it will it be fair on the new Galway senior management who could have their early season preparations compromised as a number of players may be unavailable due to the local championship dragging on.

I can tell the Mountbellew Moylough GAA club that I haven’t met a single neutral who supports their stance and, in fact, most sports people are appalled that they haven’t possessed the good grace to accept their beating on the field of play. I appreciate that emotions are running high in the club and, maybe, some officials and players feel they have the right to go down the road they have gone , but no matter how you look at it, their objection – though having some basis technically – has no right morally.

For the broader sake of Galway football and, in particular, this year’s county championship, the Inside Track is making an appeal of its own to the Mountbellew Moylough GAA Club: swallow your pride and let Micheal Breathnach’s advance to face Cortoon Shamrocks in the next round – a right they have already earned on the field of play. It’s never too late to turn back going down the wrong road and would also help to salvage the club’s reputation.

Finally, I can’t help wondering about the scruples and motives of the individual who fed Mountbellew Moylough the information about Conneely’s possible ineligibility in the first place. It was obviously someone close to the scene and who had an axe to grind with Micheal Breathnach’s. That person should be ashamed of himself/herself.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.