“We are of the opinion that this decision risks setting a dangerous precedent that has potential to cause irreparable damage to the integrity of the Donegal Senior Championship.”
The controversial saga of the 2020 Donegal championship continues to unravel, as a decision has finally been made on the issue.
The championship was firstly delayed due to COVID-19 and played last August, between Kilcar and Naomh Conaill, with the latter winning on penalties.
However, an appeal was issued by Kilcar on the basis that the champions had used too many substitutes in the extra time period.
After reviewing and confirming this, the final was ordered to be replayed, but the provincial body then stopped this, and ordered for the process to begin again.
Now, following another meeting of the county CCC, the outcome resulted in Naomh Conaill being handed a fine of €5,000, but they were allowed to hold onto their title.
Kilcar were enraged by the decision and have now released a strongly worded statement, stressing that they hold the decision in “utter contempt”, yet have decided that it is in the club’s best interest to opt against appealing the decision and look ahead to the 2022 championship.
“We are shocked and appalled that the decision arising from this finding has imposed what we consider to be the most lenient of penalties, a paltry monetary fine,” read the Kilcar statement.
“This decision has the material effect of awarding a Donegal Senior Championship title to a club that has been found to be in breach of the CLG playing rules.
“We are of the opinion that this decision risks setting a dangerous precedent that has potential to cause irreparable damage to the integrity of the Donegal Senior Championship – a competition that has been to date, held in the highest esteem by all clubs within the county – and to our games generally.
“Furthermore, the decision is completely undermining, in our view, of the GAA’s Code of Behaviour (Underage). This sends a terrible message out to the young people in whom all our clubs work consistently to nurture the core values of integrity, honourable sportsmanship and fair-play, in line with the fundamental values cherished in the Association from its foundation.
“CLG Chill Chartha holds this decision, therefore, in utter contempt. However, distasteful as it is, we have decided that to appeal the decision further would not be in our club’s, our players’, our members’ and our supporters’, or the Association’s best interests.”
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