Relegation reprieve for city club

Dara Bradley

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. 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 no team 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, who came on as a sub when Breathnachs defeated Mountbellew/Moylough, will be allowed play in the replay, which is expected to be go ahead on Sunday at Pearse Stadium before the Carna/Caiseal versus Oughterard intermediate semi-final. Times will be announced this week. It was also agreed all gate proceeds from the replay will be donated to Cancer Care West, a clause included in the agreement.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.