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Down
anger over re-fixed match - 11/04/03
Despite what many felt would be a life-line
to Down with the re-fixing of the Kildare v Sligo Allianz
NFL game for Easter Sunday, the opposite has been case
as Down Chairman, Eamon O'Toole has reacted angrily to
the GAC decision. The Down officials claim that they have
been "crucified" by this decision, which could see them
relegated from Division 1.
The crux of the matter is that if Kildare
win the replay then Down are safe while the reverse is
the case if Sligo win or indeed get a draw. A draw would
see Sligo survive, sharing five points with Down but with
a better scoring average which would then ultimately consign
Paddy O'Rourke's charges to division 2 football next season.
The Down county board met last night
and Chairman Eamon O'Toole is adamant that this is not
the end of the matter and will be pursued at the highest
level. According to the Mourne Chairman: "Sligo made a
gain at the expense of Down, but not on the field of play.
If it had been Down in a similar position they would have
accepted the final result of the field of play.
We take the view that at all times you
win games on the pitch, you don't win them anywhere else."
According to County Board Secretary, Donal McCormack who
was vocally critical also of the decision when he said:
"If the game was going to be re-fixed it should have been
done before the final round of the league. To me the fairest
thing to do would have been to play Kildare v Sligo last
Sunday putting back Down, Kildare and Sligo's last league
games by one week.
His reasoning is that if this had been
the case then they Kildare versus Sligo fixture would
have had more meaning. The irate official is scathing
in his remarks on the ruling which has had such dire consequences
for the Mournemen: "I am very surprised that an infringement
of a technicality has had such a dramatic effect. It was
an error on behalf of Kildare - there was no deliberate
intention to deceive by Kildare." The Secretary's anger
is further compounded when he reasons that Down earned
five points while both Kildare and Sligo have only managed
to gain four on the field of play.
While the Down officials are understandably
frustrated with the decision by the GAC they have to consider
that while Kildare may seem to have nothing to play for
that is not quite the feeling among the Lilywhite faithful,
who believe that Sligo were wrong to incur the attention
of the GAC to what was a genuine mistake.
The feeling in Kildare who are now doomed
to Division 2 football is that if they have to bring anybody
with to Division 2 then why not bring Sligo. No doubt
a rip-roaring contest of championship proportions can
be expected in Sligo.
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