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Down
objection to Minor Semi Final Result- 25/06/03 2003
Ulster Minor Football Championship - Semi Fianl
Down
v Fermanagh 
 Down
GAA officials have lodged an official objection against Fermanagh's controversial
victory over Down in the Ulster MFC semi-final at Clones last weekend. In
the game the Ernesiders surprised the much fancied Down side beating them 2-3
to 0-8. However it emerged after the game that Fermanagh had an extra player on
the field for a period of around two minutes late on in the game. Ironically Ross
Carr's Down side actually scored a point during this controvercial period of time.
Confusion seems to have arisen following the blood substitution of a Fermanagh
player late in the game. Fermanagh held on in a nail-biting
finale to win by 2-3 to 0-8 but there were strong protests from the Down bench
during and after the game when it emerged that Fermanagh had 16 players on the
field at one stage of the second half. A meeting of the
Down Management Committee decided to press ahead with a protest to the provincial
council and have intimated that they will take it to Central Council if they are
unsuccessful. Down will claim that Rory Rafferty spent two minutes on the field
before it came to the attention of the fourth official that he had not replaced
anybody. Rafferty was introduced as centre-back Conor Foy
was receiving treatment on the field for an injury. Foy didn't go off and Down
are claiming that Rafferty made a tackle to dispossess one of their players during
that two minute spell. Rafferty had already come on as a half-time replacement
for Daniel Ward but eye witness accounts say that his second spell lasted between
30 seconds and a minute. Rafferty was not wearing the required yellow arm band
to indicate that he was a temporary replacement during that second spell.
Fermanagh have lodged a counter objection claiming that Down used a sub whose
name didn't appear on the match programme. Aidan Macken replaced Stephen Sands
five minutes into the second half but Down are adamant that Macken's name was
submitted beforehand on the team sheet given to the referee. The
Ulster Council will examine the contents of the referee's report before making
any decision. Fermanagh could potentially forfeit the game if Down's claims are
proved correct. The Ulster minor final scheduled for July 13, could now be delayed.
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