The Ulster LGFA Council have ruled that Sunday’s Intermediate Club Football final between Derrygonnelly and Castlerahan/Denn will proceed after Steelstown were sensationally booted out of the competition.
The Derry champions have been at the centre of a fixtures dispute with the provincial council for over a week after their semi-final meeting with Castlerahan/Denn was scheduled for Wednesday night in south Co Cavan.
In a further twist, heavy rain meant that the pitch at Templeport was unplayable and a decision was taken to change the venue to Breffni Park’s 3G pitch.
Read more: Steelstown ladies ask Ulster council to 'do right thing' after fixture shambles
However, the Brian Óg’s team bus had already departed and their player had boots with metal studs for a grass pitch and were unprepared to play on a synthetic 3G surface.
Last night Derry LGFA issued a statement in support of Steelstown after their original quarter-final win over Aodh Ruadh was also called off on short notice.
“The Derry LGFA executive wish to express our deep regret at the hurdles Steelstown Brian Ógs Senior Ladies Football team have had to scale in their Ulster Intermediate club series run the past fortnight and more so in the events of the past 24 hours,” the statement read.
“We hope that Ulster Ladies Council reflect on the unrealistic expectations they placed on this senior ladies team in the last 2 weeks.
“The central ethos of any GAA code should always be to do everything possible to enhance, support and protect the players. Never make it any harder to achieve success than it already is.”
However, in their own statement issued this afternoon, the Ulster LGFA dispute Steelstown’s version of events and have awarded the semi-final tie to the Cavan champions.
“At the Ulster Executive meeting on Tuesday 1st November 2022 the Ulster Fixtures Secretary provided clear and definitive information on the arrangements for the Semi Final fixture between Castlerahan/Denn and Steelstown to take place on Wednesday 2nd November 2022.This plan was communicated.
“A pitch inspection would be held at Templeport GAC on Wednesday 2nd November, as early as possible, bearing in mind the poor weather forecast for the day.
“In the likelihood of inclement weather, and the need for a change of venue, a back-up pitch had been secured. This was clearly communicated as the 3G pitch at Kingspan Breffni on several occasions.”
The statement goes on to stress that the Ulster LGFA received communication from the Steelstown chairperson stating that their players wouldn’t be playing on a 3G pitch and that they received an email from the Steelstown secretary saying the club were not aware that Breffni Park 3G was the back-up venue.
The Ulster LGFA have cited rule 303 of the Official Guide, which states: ‘Where a Club or County has delegates at a fixtures meeting, such Club or County shall be deemed to have received official notification of decisions made.”
As a result, at an emergency meeting last night, the Ulster LGFA delegates voted unanimously to award the tie to Castlerahan/Denn.
It remains to be seen what further course of action is open to Steelstown with the Ulster Intermediate final now scheduled to take place in Healy Park on Sunday.
However, it is understood that club officials are pondering an appeal against the decision which could throw Sunday's provincial decider into doubt.
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