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18th May 2017

Derry CCC meeting tonight to investigate 13-second game

Both clubs standing their ground

Conan Doherty

God, wouldn’t you love to be a fly on the wall in one of these meeting?

The Derry Competitions Control Committee will meet on Thursday night to look at the referee’s report and discuss Loup’s controversial win over Glenullin on Sunday.

Anthony O’Neill was the hero of that Division One league clash when he rattled in the only goal of the game in the first minute. It just so happened that it was the only score of the game and it was also in the last minute as Loup beat a 0-man Glenullin 1-0 to 0-0.

Glenullin didn’t take to the field initially, unhappy at the choice of referee, Declan O’Connor – who was said to have been selected as a replacement late in the week, on Friday – so the Referee Chairman showed up and offered to officiate the game.

Loup, however, did not agree to this change and O’Connor is believed to have “insisted” on taking charge of the fixture.

So the hosts protested.

After Glenullin did not field inside their allotted 15 minutes, the referee threw the ball in anyway with just one team on the pitch. Loup scored a goal and the game was over. The players, management and officials walked off the field but then Glenullin were said to have taken to the pitch a few minutes later to be told the game was void and Loup had won.

Speaking to Mal McMullan of the County Derry Post, Derry GAA chairman Brian Smith confirmed that the game will be reviewed tonight by the CCC.

“It will either be refixed or Loup will be awarded the game,” Smith said.

“When the decision is made, it is the right of either club to appeal.”

Glenullin claim that the Referee Chairman Sean Curran acknowledged a mistake in appointing O’Connor who is said to be unable to officiate Glenullin games and that’s why he showed up, to take charge of proceedings.

https://twitter.com/JoeOKane111/status/863806393631088643

Loup, on the other hand, are arguing that they should not be dictated to, that they made the journey, and they took the field.

A decision will be made tonight – then the appeals can begin.

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Derry GAA