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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Paddy Tierney

Glen blast GAA for failure to review 16th man incident in All-Ireland Club final

Glen have criticised the GAA for putting the onus of appealing the result of Sunday’s All-Ireland Club SFC final on them.

Kilmacud Croke’s edged the Derry side 1-11 to 1-9, but their victory has been overshadowed after it emerged that they had 16 players on the field for the final passage of play.

Paul Mannion was also slow to leave the pitch when replaced and, technically, Kilmacud had 17 players on the pitch as Glen when in search of a match-winning goal.

Read more: Joe Brolly blasts closing stages of All-Ireland final and calls for replay between Kilmacud Crokes and Glen

While Mannion wasn’t interfering with play, the same couldn’t be said for Kilmacud’s other ‘extra’ man Dara Mullin, who was due to be replaced by Conor Casey, but stayed on to help defend Danny Tallon’s late ’45.

Conleth McGuckian’s last-gasp attempt flashed narrowly wide of the post as the Dublin men held on to lift the Andy Merrigan Cup, but it remains to be seen if the game will be replayed.

The GAA have put the ball firmly in Glen’s court and won’t investigate the incident unless the Maghera men lodge an objection - something Watty Graham’s said is “extremely disappointing” in a statement issued on Monday night.

“Our chairperson Barry Slowey confirmed we would seek clarification from the GAA on the breach of rules,” read the statement.

“The GAA have reverted to us today to say that without an official objection from Watty Graham’s they will not review this matter.

“This is extremely disappointing for our club to be placed in this position and we must take a short period of time to ascertain our stance going forward.”

It is understood that a replay is the most likely outcome if Glen appeal the result and they have until 3.30pm on Wednesday to do so.

Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke (©INPHO/Ryan Byrne)

In the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s game, Glen boss Malachy O’Rourke indicated that an appeal was unlikely, albeit that the club would make the final call.

“I can’t speak for the club or anything else but I don’t think that’s how the club operates,” stated O’Rourke.

“We had our chances. We gave it our best shot. Look it, that shouldn’t happen. I can’t speak for the club but I just think we’ll accept we got beat on the day.”

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