Inis Cealtra appeal casts doubt over minor A final

The Minor A Hurling Championship final between Clarecastle and Kilmaley is scheduled for Saturday, October 27 but a doubt hangs over this fixture after East Clare amalgamation Inis Cealtra lodged an appeal with the CHC.

Inis Cealtra, an amalgamation of Scariff, Whitegate and Ogonnelloe, finished on the same points as Feakle-Killanena but the latter team went through to the championship semi-final, where they suffered a two point defeat at the hands of Clarecastle.

A few years ago a new rule was added to the GAA’s Treoiri Oifigiuil in relation to how teams that finish level on points could be separated. That rule says that where three or more teams finish on the same points, scoring difference will be used to determine positions. However where two teams finish level on points, the team that won when the sides met will go top. Feakle-Killanena beat Inis Cealtra when they met in the league section and so were placed ahead of their East Clare neighbours.

“We advised all the clubs at the start of the year that we would be running all competitions as per this rule.  No one objected and the clubs that make up this amalgamation were in attendance”, Bord na nÓg chairman Martin Reynolds told the Clare Champion this week. “I am disappointed that someone would question it at this late stage but the process is there for an appeal and they decided to avail of that,” Reynolds said.

Bord na nÓg went ahead with the semi-finals last weekend. Feakle-Killanena suffered a two point defeat from Clarecastle (0-17 to 0-15) and Kilmaley won the other semi-final, a 1-15 to 1-13 over Sixmilebridge.

Inis Cealtra were scheduled to play Broadford in the semi-final of the minor A shield but they didn’t turn up for that fixture. They had informed the board that they would not be turning up and they also informed Broadford, who did not attend for that fixture either.

Inis Cealtra’s appeal is due to be heard by the CHC this Thursday night.