Utter farce as Dublin and Clare camogie teams pull out of 2015 championship

So ends a sorry saga, but the fall-out is only beginning.

Dublin and Clare camogie teams have withdrawn from the 2015 All-Ireland championship following the coin toss clusterbomb. Wexford are set to receive a bye into the last four after both counties opted to pull out of a championship tainted in rules farce and red tape. That may still happen if both counties reject the last-minute olive branch from the Camogie Association. In a statement issued shortly after 3:30pm, the association has offered a play-off compromise for 2pm in Semple Stadium, on Saturday. The Camogie Association had, on Tuesday, stuck to a decision that a quarter-final berth would be decided by the drawing of lots [a 'coin toss'] after both sides had finished on the same points tally during the knock-out qualifiers. A statement from Dublin, this morning, reads: 'The Executive of the Dublin County Board held a meeting on Tuesday ,28 July and took the decision to withdraw it’s name from the drawing of lots (Coin Toss) to decide which team Dublin/Clare should progress to the quarter final stages of this years Senior All-Ireland Championship.' [caption id="attachment_33819" align="alignnone" width="630"] Clare's Katie Lynch.[/caption] The Banner released a lengthier statement, but here are the salient points:

• The Camogie Association has demonstrated their utter contempt and disdain for every player and member of the Association. How can a governing sporting body justify by any logic the Drawing of Lots(coin toss) to determine progression in Championship?
• Clare Camogie have withdrawn from the drawing of lots. A decision that was not taken lightly and may have serious repercussions for the future of these players.
• The upset and mental anguish that has been forced upon players by the Association, will have deep and long lasting repercussions. Players are inconsolable and feel betrayed.

This is not the last we will hear about the matter. There has been resounding support for both counties, and widespread disdain for the Camogie Association, since the withdrawals were confirmed. https://twitter.com/BrendanSol/status/626324159510016000 https://twitter.com/maire_doran/status/626323599914323968 https://twitter.com/jacquihurley/status/626292068265127936 The Dublin and Clare panels have since released a joint statement on the affair in which they explain how disappointed they were with the way they found out about the decision.

"With the support and advice of our managers, county boards and the WGPA, we have decided to withdraw from this year’s All Ireland series.  Ultimately, we feel hugely disrespected as players and feel like we are in a no win situation.   We are amateur players who train several times per week collectively and individually, making personal and financial sacrifices to represent our county team.  We are presented as ambassadors for our sport at national level and are the flagship product for our games yet throughout this entire process we have not once been consulted with nor does it appear to us that our opinion matters to the Camogie Association.  This decision has far reaching consequences beyond a game; we players are emotionally drained and devastated about this decision, yet once again, we reiterate that this does not seem to have been considered at national level.  Player welfare is a stated goal of the Camogie Association and we feel it has been violated hugely in this instance.  It was particularly difficult to learn about this decision over social media leaving us as individuals completely at a loss about how to react."