Kilmacud Crokes have been formally awarded the All-Ireland club title after meeting with the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee.
A replay of their final win over Glen had been ordered after Kilmacud had 16 players active for the last play of the game following a botched substitution as the Derry champions made a last-ditch effort for a match-winning goal.
However, having lodged an objection against the result which brought about the ordering of the replay, Glen announced last Friday that they did not intend to fulfil the fixture as they did “not believe the conditions exist for a replay to be contested”.
But, by then, Crokes had already submitted an appeal to the Central Appeals Committee against the replay. They have now withdrawn that appeal on request from the CCCC in order to bring the matter to a conclusion.
Kilmacud will take vindication from the fact that the CCCC, as per a GAA statement today, “made it clear that this (the substitution) was not a deliberate action and that no fault was attributed to Kilmacud Crokes for the situation they found themselves in”, which suggests that error, which saw Dara Mullin remain on the field despite Conor Casey having been sent in to replace him, rests with the match officials, led by referee Derek O’Mahoney.
The statement in full reads: “Representatives of Kilmacud Crokes and the CCCC met today to consider the implications of the decision on Friday of Watty Graham’s Glen to withdraw from the process initiated around the 2023 AIB All-Ireland Club Football Final.
“The CCCC, arising from an objection on behalf of Watty Graham’s Glen, had ordered a replay of the game on the basis that in excess of the number of players permitted were on the field for the last play of the game.
“The CCCC decision – communicated to the two clubs on Tuesday of last week - had made it clear that this was not a deliberate action and that no fault was attributed to Kilmacud Crokes for the situation they found themselves in.
“Upon a request from the CCCC, Kilmacud Crokes, in the interests of fully resolving the matter, today agreed to withdraw their appeal to the Central Appeals Committee.
“A subsequent meeting of the CCCC has formally awarded the 2023 All Ireland Club Championship to Kilmacud Crokes.”
Kilmacud, meanwhile, have finally broken their silence by welcoming the GAA’s statement, which they say “brings to an end what has been a very difficult two weeks for both Watty Graham’s GAC, Glen and our own Kilmacud Crokes.”
Their statement added: “The teams, management and the family and friends of all GAA clubs know the sacrifice, physical endurance and mental strength that is required to reach an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final and we congratulate both clubs on their achievement.
“We would like to thank our players, the management team, volunteers and our wider membership community for their ongoing support and commitment.
“Our club will continue to move forward focused on our passion to promote the enjoyment of Gaelic games within our community in an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment for all ages and all levels.”
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