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STATEMENT ISSUED ON BEHALF OF KILDARE COUNTY BOARD BY CHAIRMAN SYL MERRINS

Following a special meeting of Kildare County Board, Tuesday, May 30, the view of the clubs in the county were conveyed to the executive after a lengthy and passionate debate on matters surrounding the Leinster SFC quarter-final last Sunday. It was the unanimous view of all present that Offaly had broken Rule 113 (b).

Contrary to the impression given in some quarters, it was clarified that Kildare were invited to attend Monday night’s meeting convened by Leinster Council’s GAC who sought their views. Kildare accepted this invitation after careful consideration.

Delegates were taken aback at Leinster Council’s decision not to give a judgement on the breach of rule, opting instead to seek an interpretation from Central Council. When it comes to this particular rule, Kildare knows only too well the penalties that apply for not abiding to the letter of the law - however inadvertently the case may be. This point was strongly repeated by many delegates during the course of the county board meeting.

One of the key talking-points last night was how ridiculous the situation would become in games across the country at all levels, were you to adopt the approach that a temporary sub could remain on the field while the player that he replaced returns to the fray. Does it mean that you could apply this ’principle’ with every single one of your team and replace all 15 players?

Every option available was discussed and debated with great intensity and following a vote on the matter, Kildare County Board has decided to await the outcome of Central Council’s deliberations and Leinster Council’s ruling. We are confident that the rules of the Association will be upheld for the longterm benefit and integrity of all those involved in the game.

It would be a pity if that judgement were to be otherwise, and that Kildare would be obliged to pursue the ultimate course of action - something which was whole-heartedly approved at the meeting.

Kildare have seen their teams pay a heavy price on the whole substitution question in the past - like the league game against Sligo in 2002 and the county hurlers v Westmeath in 2004. And of course, there was also the celebrated case of Na Fianna using six subs against Sarsfields (Kildare champions in 2001) and having to forfeit the game, but in a sporting gesture, Sarsfields offered a re-fixture to their opponents - much to the benefit of the game as a whole. Fair play must always be a priority, which is why the clubs of Kildare are adamant that the proper application of the rules - in all cases - should be the order of the day.

True Red wrote:One of the key talking-points last night was how ridiculous the situation would become in games across the country at all levels, were you to adopt the approach that a temporary sub could remain on the field while the player that he replaced returns to the fray. Does it mean that you could apply this ’principle’ with every single one of your team and replace all 15 players?

What a ludicrous statement - the Kelleghan/Coughlan/Phelan thing counts as one substitution, as it should - so of course you couldn't do it fifteen times. For Offaly to have broken any rules it needs to count as two full substitutions. Also, a county can't choose to make a blood sub, it has to be enforced.

Why were they not called on these points?

You got there before me LS, that suggestion of replacing 15 players is idiotic.

Kildare's carry on is starting to piss me off.
Why don't they just come out and say that they want a replay or a bye?

Lads, Kildare are not called the 'Lily Shites' for nothing.

Lads can we not accept that we were in the same boat in 1998- and were adamant that the rule should be inforced even though we were four points down with 2 minutes to play in a game that that we never deserved to win in the 1st place...Offaly people cant forget that on that occasion we had the country behind us...now the shoe is on the other foot...we should Accept our fate. if we got a replay it would be great because the official guide says we should be thrown out and Central Council will enforce the Official Guide on this, but beacuse of leniancy and to avoid Offaly holding up the championship with a case to the DRA, they will probably decide on a replay...this is the best case scenario for us

There are so many things wrong with that post Far from Croghan Hill, that I don't even have time to answer it. Maybe some of the other lads will do the honours.

I'd argue that it would be better to be thrown out than a replay be fixed.

It would be great to go into the qualifiers with an injustice over us. it would steel us up for years

Lets be very clear here Bif's, Offaly broke rule 133(b), if they had correctly taken Coughlan off at half time and introduced him as a sub for Phelan then the problem would have been resolved on Monday night.

I believe that the Leinster Council passed the book on this one to leave the blame for throwing Offaly out with Central Council.

As a Carbury and Kildare man I keep an eye on Offaly affairs through my friends in Edenderry, the recent case involving Finbarr Cullen was along similiar lines - a genuine error, but it was harsly dealt wit as per the Official Guide. As I remeber there was no sympathy for Edenderry on that one. If it was a genuine error it was treated as per the rules as i hoe offfaly are. We too were victims of a genuine errror in the league against Sligo and there was no repreive for us.

There are no direct parallels to 1998:

1. We were 3 points down to Clare with 5 minutes (stated by Cooney) to play. There was a very specific rule (Rule 127 B) about a game that was terminated early having to replayed.

2. If we are found to be in the wrong, the rule don't automatically say we must be thrown out. Since the the most recent congress there is the provision for a fine to be imposed.

3. While Offaly handled the subs issue badly, there is some doubt about how exactly we broke the rules. The rules don't cover every eventaulity. There is enough vagueness there to suggest that Offaly can't be easily punished. If the rules aren't clear, then the safe option is to let the result stand.
i.e. If we are supposed to have used 6 subs, then how could a player (Paschal) be considered a sub since he started a game and wasn't taken off?

aghhhhh

Come on the Bawn!!!!!
kildare are sore losers
and john divilly needs a good slap!!!
see ye all in the roma grill!!!

Offaly broke rule 133(b),

What rule is that???

As the rule book is currently written, we have broken no rule, as Spillane might have seen had he used the 2003 rule book instead of the 2001 version.

As for the Kildare situation v Sligo - you cannot compare the two - Kildare used six subs, 21 players - we did not. What we did was perfectly ok, IF there was any error it is purely paperwork and had no bearing on the outcome of the game.

I'm sickened by the threatening statement released by the Kildare County Board.

P.S. There was considerable sympathy for Edenderry and a lot of people felt Ballycumber were wrong to pursue it.

What a whingy whiney shower of .......... buggers !

They were beaten by a better team.

They know it.

Everyone knows it.

They are getting NO support from anyone else; not any National journalist, not any of the match officials, not any of the Leinster Council officials that have made public statements so far, not even from many (resisting exaggeration here) of their own County supporters judging from some web forums.

Kildare is a county with a big population with many big clubs. Their level of underachievment must be one of highest in the land. Perhaps this rankles with some of their local chiefs; when lil' ol' Offaly spanks them once more. So they cry "Not Fair" and try to pick up the ball and run away with it. But it's not their ball, and there was no real Foul Play. Maybe a slip of paper was missing but everybody knows that slip of paper didn't affect the scoreboard.

This is stupid beyond belief. Any outcome other than vindication for Offaly will be even more damaging for the GAA, including Kildare.

"We are confident that the rules of the Association will be upheld for the longterm benefit and integrity of all those involved in the game.

It would be a pity if that judgement were to be otherwise, and that Kildare would be obliged to pursue the ultimate course of action - something which was whole-heartedly approved at the meeting"

Kildare are asking that the "rules of the association" be upheld. If the GAA decides simply to fine Offaly, as now allowed by the rules, and allow them to progress will Kildare be happy? Or would a "judgement" like this lead them to take further action anyway, even though that decision would be perfectly legitimate?

Great website by the way.