Published: Wednesday, 13th January, 2010 4:50pm

Rathkenny still waiting

Meath Co Committee secretary Cyril Creavin.

The situation regarding the conclusion of the 2009 SFC relegation issue is still in limbo.

Rathkenny are waiting for an opportunity to meet with the Meath Hearings Committee follwoing Meath Co Committee's decision to relegate them from senior football for failing to fulfil a re-fixture against Walterstown.

The issue arose after Walterstown successfully appealed having to play extra-time in a SFC relegation play-off against Rathkenny and were granted a re-fixture by Leinster Council.

Meath CCC unsuccesfully challenged that decision and the game was re-fixed for Sunday, 6th December at Donore.

Rathkenny advised Meath Co Committee that they would not fulfil the fixture and the game was declared a walkover to Walterstown.

"We played and beat Walterstown on Sunday, 27th September in the first phase of a relegation play-off, we were notified about that fixture in the normal manner and it clearly stated that extra-time should be played," stated Rathkenny official Edmund Curtis after the Co Committee's decision to relegate them from the SFC.

"Walterstown played in a relegation play-off last year and won in extra-time, they had no problems then. We have done nothing wrong, but now it appears that we are out of senior football after we were expected to play the same game again following a gap of 10 weeks.

"Rathkenny intend to appeal this matter and we believe that a lot of clubs will support us," concluded Curtis.

The delay in getting the whole embarrassing saga sorted out is a source of frustration for Co Committee secretary Cyril Creavin.

"I feel the Rathkenny issue should have been sorted out a long time ago. It seems to be going on now for ever and a day and we are no further on than where we were a few weeks back," said the secretary.

"At the moment Rathkenny are waiting for a hearing with the Hearings Committee and there can be no progress until that is sorted out. It wouldn't be fair on any one to say too much on it until due process has taken its course.

"The whole thing is only with the Meath Hearings Committee at the moment and in fairness to Rathkenny they have the right to take the matter as far as they can and we can't sort anything out until all the avenues have been explored and a decision has been made," he concluded.

With the Christmas holidays and adverse weather conditions bringing the country to a standstill for the last few weeks very little administrative work has been conducted on the GAA front. However, Rathkenny chairman Curtis confirmed Rathkenny's appeal process is underway.

"We have appealed the decision to relegate our senior team, but we are still waiting for a date for the hearing. We expect that the meeting will be next week," confirmed Curtis to the Meath Chronicle on Tuesday morning.

The outstanding relegation play-off game which involves Duleek / Bellewstown may or may not need to be scheduled.

If Rathkenny lose their appeal they can go to Leinster Council, but if they are unsuccessful there, it would mean that they will not be in the senior grade next year unless the take their plight to the DRA.

However, if they are successful in their appeal to the Meath Hearings Committee, then Walterstown could be in a position to appeal that decision to Leinster Council as it would effectively reverse the original decision by Leinster to uphold Walterstown's appeal.

Don't rule out the possibility of an extra team in the 2010 SFC?