Breathnachs and Mountbellew to settle it on the field
Date Published: {J}
IT’S another example of an Irish solution to an Irish problem. The dispute between Micheál Breathnach and Mountbellew/Moylough that has delayed the Galway senior club football championship for months has been ‘resolved’ but the resolution may simply be storing up trouble later in the year and in next year’s campaign.
The two clubs thrashed out an agreement following third party mediation last Friday to replay the disputed championship clash this weekend – a match that is expected to be a massive draw for neutrals. The twist in the solution to the complex and often bitter impasse will have implications for the remainder of the championship and the 2012 campaign.
City club St Michael’s, who were facing a relegation survival battle with either Mountbellew/Moylough or Micheál Breathnach, have been given a reprieve this year as the County Board has reluctantly agreed, as part of the mediation settlement, that no club will be relegated from senior in 2011 but two clubs will go down next year. Killanin and Caltra’s relegation match has also been called off.
It is understood the Football Board was extremely unhappy with being backed into a corner of having to abandon the relegation to reach agreement because the new format of championship relegation was only introduced for this year’s campaign. However it is believed Micheál Breathnach were not willing to replay the match unless the threat of relegation, should they lose, was removed.
Arbitration commenced early on Friday morning in the Clayton Hotel and lasted over 22 hours between representatives of the clubs and their legal teams; and the arbitrator Liam Keane, a Meath solicitor appointed by the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA).
The mediation stalled on several occasions during Friday day and night; and at various stages during the marathon session, agreement looked unlikely. Relegating two teams next year and none this year, a binding element of the resolution, will mean there will be 22 teams playing senior championship in 2012. Although nobody will be relegated, the intermediate champions of this year will still be promoted, meaning there will be just 15 teams playing intermediate next year.
Another element of the agreement is that the player at the centre of the eligibility issue, Tommy Conneley, who came on as a sub when Breathnachs defeated Mountbellew/Moylough, will be allowed play in the replay, which will go ahead on Sunday at Pearse Stadium (throw-in, 4.15pm) before the Carna/Caiseal versus Oughterard intermediate semi-final at 2.30pm. In the other intermediate semi-final Kilconly play Monivea/Abbey at Tuam Stadium at 5pm on Sunday. It was also agreed all gate proceeds from the replay will be donated to Cancer Care West, a clause included in the agreement. Gerry Kinneavy will referee the replay.
Corofin, Salthill/Knocknacarra and Milltown are already in the semi-final. The winner of this replay will play Cortoon Shamrocks with the winner of that playing Tuam Stars. The county semi-finals were pencilled in for next weekend and the final was supposed to be played on October 2. These targets will obviously not be met, but the Football and County Board are determined that a senior club from the county will take part in the Connacht Championship fixed for November 6 against the Mayo champions.
If agreement hadn’t been reached, there were fears that the issue would go back to the Galway and Connacht CCC and then appealed to Croke Park, taking several more months and delaying the championship indefinitely. “Our priority was to get a settlement, so that we would have Galway representation in the Connacht Championship. There was give and take but the main thing is the Galway senior football championship is back on track,” said Football Board secretary, Seamus O’Grady.
For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.