Offaly SFC Semi Finals

[Blue and White]

Draw was made last night during the Brigids V Erin Rovers game.

Rhode V St. Brigids
Clara V Shamrocks

Rhode will be obvious favourites for the first game though anything can happen when such close neighbours are in competition. Don't know if they have met in recent times in the Championship. Maybe a drawn group game 4 or 5 years ago.
The second game is harder to call with Clara needing to improve on their performance against Ballycumber.

The relegation playoff between Shannonbridge and Doon ended in a draw 1-15 to 2-12 though the result is in doubt after Doon objections that Shannonbridge played some of the second half with 16 players.

If it was to stand it would mean that Edenderry are relegated.

[Muck Savage]

Interesting that the Bridge had 16 on the field. Sounds like E'derry are gone anyway and that Doon and the Bridge will have to battle it out again.

[True Red]

We aint out of it yet......If the bridge had 16 players on the field they will forfeit the match and Doon will get the points.
If the Red's manage to beat Doon it will mean that the 3 teams will be on 2 points and we will be back to square 1 again.

[Lone Shark]

I would assume this will be down to the ref's report. I can't see how Doon "challenging" it would make any difference.

Incidentally I wouldn't depend on Doon pushing it too far. I'd say that while they will feel that they could have won a lot easier on Saturday, the confidence levels will be a lot higher after a much improved performance - I'd almost fancy them to take Shannonbridge in a second game.

Edenderry are in an odd position here actually. Based on the last few games the Reds have played, there seems to be no appetite for football at all among them. Assuming the Doon-Bridge match is declared a draw, would Edenderry even field? (I mean in any meaningful way, rather than line out and fold like they did against Ferbane).

Would there be a possibilty of a quid pro quo? Doon step back from pushing the subs issue, and Shannonbridge accede to Edenderry conceding a walkover against Doon?

[True Red]

Referee Noel Cooney has included it in his match report.This obligate's the GAC of Offaly county board to investigate the situation.

Doon have decided not to object to the fielding of 16 players.This is convenient for both them and Shannonbridge as it keeps Edenderry out of it.The Doon V Edenderry game would have been a dead rubber from Edenderry's point of view and more than likely they would have given a walkover as there was nothing to be achieved by playing it.

This would have left Doon and Shannonbridge free to play a once off match to see who got relegated.

Assuming the Doon-Bridge match is declared a draw, would Edenderry even field? (I mean in any meaningful way, rather than line out and fold like they did against Ferbane).

Have to take issue with you on this one.First of all edenderry went out to win that match against ferbane,in the same way as they went out to win all their matches this year.Ferbane were the better team on the day and Edenderry just never got going.Scoreline wise it looks as if they folded but if you were at the match (which i doubt you were) you would have seen a reasonance of fighting spirit in the 2nd half from Edenderry.

Anyways if Shannonbridge are found guilty (which i think they will) it will be all to play for against Doon for the Red's.

[Lone Shark]

Fair enough point with regard to the Ferbane match - I wasn't there, however word had reached me of half time bust ups and a general lack of any kind of team effort from Edenderry. However the grapevine has never been short on such rumours after a heavy defeat, so my apologies if I've offended.

As opposed to that, you're stopping a little but feck all short of suggesting collusion between the two clubs there. By no means is it to Doon's convenience to have the match as a draw. If the match is a draw they play Shannonbridge again in a 50/50 game, where the winner stays up and the loser goes down. If they are declared the winner of that game by default, then they play Edenderry in a game where they will be favourites (based on Edenderry's recent displays) and if they win they stay up but if they lose they have another chance????

Can't see how that arrangement would be to Doon's convenience.

[The Magpie]

Agreed. I'm sure Doon will want the win here - they couldn't possibly prefer a draw with a greater risk of relegation, just to see Edenderry go down.

[Mighty Pair O' Hands]

Referee Noel Cooney has included it in his match report.This obligate's the GAC of Offaly county board to investigate the situation.

What is the most likely outcome for the fielding of 16 players ?
I am aware of some cases where this had no penalty attached. In this case, however, the extra player had a big bearing on the result as he was directly involved in the equalising point.
Treasurer's knowledge of the rule book may be needed here

[naasmanxrhode]

Doon should be awarded the points and if they draw/beat Edenderry they would stay in the senior ranks. if not a 3 way play off again. Why did the ref (Noel Cooney) not hold up play.Anyway Shannonbridge broke the rules.

[Treasurer]

2.1 A team shall consist of fifteen players

BUT under the penalties section it makes no reference to having an extra player (that I can see, but it was a quick skim, someone else might have a look!)

Rules of Specification and Control - Penalties Penalties for breaches of the above Rules shall be as follows:
(a) A team failing to field fifteen players, inclusive of players ordered off or retired injured, by the start of the second half of a game.
PENALTY - The game shall be awarded to opposing team.

They didn't fail to field fifteen players.........

[Bord na Mona man]

Dublin broke the rules in 1995 when Charlie Redmond was an extra man having stayed on after getting sent off.
Also Clare had 16 men on for a while against Offaly back in game 1, back in 1998.
The result stood in both cases.

[the Untouchable]

Doon also played for a while against Gracefield with 16 players this year, they even got a goal while he was on the field!!! I'd say there's no way the result will be over turned, especially after the subs row Offaly were involved in after the Kildare match!!!
Edenderry are gone but will probably win intermediate next year & come back better than ever, amazing to think that if the Ballycumber result had stood they might actually have gone on to have a fairly decent year...having that result overturned definately took alot out of them & lads lost interest.

[96318104]

I wonder if Doon don't lodge an objection about the 16 players, is it possible for Edenderry to lodge one? After all they are the team most affected by this

[Hocker]

Let me explain exactly what the situation was on saturday..
In the final minute with Shannonbridge in posession of the ball & a point down, 'Bridge make a double substitution.
Confusion arose when one of the players (player 1) was substituted, walked down the sideline after been taken off, unaware that it was a double substitution. He saw the other player (Player 2) walking off & assumed that he was the one being taken off. So he (Player 1) re-entered the field during the passage of play leading up the equalising free kick which was to be the last action of the game.
Contrary to reports, this player neither received the ball nor contributed to the play whatsoever leading up to the free being awarded.
As soon as the free kick was awarded, his presence on the field was duly noted by Shannonbridge management & he was called ashore.
Karol Kelly scored the resultant free kick & the final whistle sounded following the kick-out.
Doon selectors then pointed out to referee Noel cooney on the field after the match about this incident & He then proceeded to question the player & has subsequently added it to his match report.
Doon are not going to lodge an objection to this.
We shall eagerly anticipate The re-match to what was certaintly one of the games of the senior championship.

[Mighty Pair O' Hands]

Contrary to reports, this player neither received the ball nor contributed to the play whatsoever leading up to the free being awarded.

I may be wrong but I thought that the player in question when he came back onto the field, made himself available for a short free kick from Mark Carty ( was in plenty of free space to receive the pass given that he was the 16th Man ), turned and drove the ball into the Doon half, whereupon a Shannonbridge player fielded it and was fouled. From the free, came the equalising point.

My recall from other games is that this "offence" is rarely punished so the result will probably stand. Which is tough luck on Edenderry.