BREAKING NEWS
The furore surrounding the concluding stages of the Meath SFC took another twist this evening when it emerged that the Meath Co Board are reportedly about to appeal Leinster Council ruling which decreed that the clash of Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Na Fianna be re-fixed.
The complications regarding the conclusion of the race for the Keegan Cup arose after three teams – Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Na Fianna and Curraha – ended on the same points total at the end of the group stages.
Now, in such a scenario, the Head-To-Head rule which is (unfairly) used to split two tied teams cannot be utilised. Hence score difference then becomes the deciding factor.
However, it is my understanding (and if the following is incorrect please advise) that the scores of either the four teams in the group – or at the very least the three who were tied – need to be taken into consideration.
Whereas, Na Fianna, successfully, contended that only the scoring difference between themselves and the ‘Moores were adjudicated upon. Either way, after the governing body which is superior to them ruled ln favour of the complainants, it’s difficult to see on what grounds the Meath board could win their case.
Mind you, having experience with the objection/appeal processes myself going back nearly 20 years, gut feeling is to think there could be more twists to this yet than a rope on a hay bogey.
Perhaps it’s best, though, to leave the last word to my colleague Fergal Lynch who posted on X earlier: “As things stand, St Colmcille’s against Donaghmore/Ashbourne will go ahead on Friday night, but there’ll be plenty more twists in the tale yet”.
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