‘A COMPLETE FARCE’
Michael Dwyers lodge appeal after Féile furore
MICHAEL DWYERS GAA CLUB have lodged an official appeal and sent a letter of complaint following what they describe as a “terrible injustice” resulting in their under-14 footballers exiting the Féile na nÓg qualifiers in Annacurra last Friday evening.
The Dwyers are claiming that an error relating to the final score of the game and number of breaches of the rules took place on Friday evening both at the end and immediately after the second game in Group D of the ‘B’ qualifiers.
Manager of the Michael Dwyers under-14 side Ollie Murphy says that one the main issues arose after the final whistle in the second game of the evening in Annacurra, that being between his side and AGB who had already defeated Annacurra in the opening game. The top team in the group would qualify for the semi-finals the following day in Ballinakill.
“We got to half-time and I asked the referee what the score was, and he said it was 1-3 to 0-3 in favour of AGB.
“We went out for the second half and we scored 1-3 and AGB scored two points. That left it at 1-6 to 1-5 for Dwyers. Everybody at the ground believed that Dwyers had won the game. The AGB players fell to the ground in disappointment,” he said.
Murphy claims that a member of the AGB management team agreed with parents at the game that Michael Dwyers had won the game. Attempts to contact the AGB manager prior to deadline proved unsuccessful.
Ollie Murphy also says that Wicklow Coiste na nÓg secretary Catriona Byrne – a member of the Michael Dwyers club – had the score at 1-6 to 1-5 in favour of the Dwyers.
However, referee Gerry Corbett signaled that the game was a draw at 1-5 to 1-5. The Michael Dwyers manager says that the Coiste na nÓg secretary offered the alternative score but that the match official was confident he had the score correct.
The Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne was then contacted by phone and he instructed that extra-time be played between AGB and Michael Dwyers. However, Ollie Murphy, speaking on behalf of the Michael Dwyers GAA Club, believes that this was in breach of the rules sent out by Wicklow GAA to the clubs prior to the competition.
The rule states that: In the event of a draw when games are finished there will be ten minutes (2x5minutes) played involving the teams concerned.
Ollie Murphy maintains that Michael Dwyers should have been allowed to play Annacurra in their third game and then face AGB in the extra-time.
The Michael Dwyers manager said that his players went from a feeling of elation having believed they had won the match to one of huge disappointment at the revelation that the referee had the score level. Conversely, Murphy says that AGB went from disap- pointment to elation at having been given a second chance and, with only minutes to prepare his team, it left Michael Dwyers at a distinct disadvantage and as it turned out AGB won the extra-time battle convincingly.
Asked how he felt that situation was handled on the evening Murphy says that it wasn’t handled at all.
“It wasn’t handled. It was a complete farce. Nobody knew what was to happen next. Nobody knew the rules. It was completely wrong. We’re appealing this to the County Board and the CCC. We are not taking this lightly. As far as we’re concerned we beat AGB and we beat Annacurra as well. We also feel that the rules were not adhered to on the night.
“The prize for this (going to the Féile) is massive.
“This is bigger than a championship final. These players will get one chance, some might get two, to go to this event. The GAA are always pushing ‘fair play’. This was far from fair play. This is massive for us. My players were crying on the ground and then they had to go and play 10 minutes of extra-time. It’s not right.
“We will not take anything other than fair play on the result of this. If we have to we will go to Leinster. We will not take no for an answer. This is a terrible injustice.
“In saying that I have every faith that the County Board will do the right thing here. We’re trying to keep these players playing football and this is not a great example to be showing them. We don’t want them to walk away,” he added.
Coiste na nÓg Chairman Pat Dunne said that he couldn’t comment until the referee’s report is received and the CCC have sat on the matter.
Wicklow GAA Chairman Martin Fitzgerald said that he couldn’t comment until the CCC have made their decision on the issue.
The CCC are likely to meet later this week to review the appeal.