Shamrocks GAA decides not to take objection any further
Shamrocks GAA has drawn a line under the club's objection to the result of their Offaly SFC quarter-final against Ferbane.
The Rahan/Mucklagh club released two statements last night (Friday), confirming that they would not be pursuing the matter further.
Shamrocks lodged an objection to the result on the basis that a two-pointer awarded to Ferbane, for a kick by Adam Egan in the early stages of last Sunday's match, should have been just a single point. Video footage appeared to show that Egan’s effort was kicked from just inside the 40-metre arc.
Ferbane went on to win the game in Tullamore by the minimum margin, 3-15 to 2-17, after making a dramatic comeback from six points down.
It also emerged that Shamrocks joint managers John Monaghan and Brian Kinnarney stepped aside from their roles over not being consulted about the objection.
The Shamrocks objection to the Offaly Competitions Control Committee was unsuccessful and a meeting was held among Shamrocks GAA officials and the players to decide whether to bring an objection to the Leinster Council.
In the view of many observers, an objection to the Leinster Council was also likely to be unsuccessful, and the club would probably have to bring the matter to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) to have a realistic chance of forcing a replay.
However, Shamrocks has confirmed that it won't be taking the matter any further.
One of the statements released last night by the club is a joint statement from the Shamrocks Executive Committee and the players group, with the Executive Committee also issuing a separate statement.
"The Shamrocks Executive Committee and Players Group convened this evening to consider the outcome of our appeal concerning the result of the Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final. Following careful discussion, we have unanimously agreed not to pursue the matter further," said the joint statement.
"While we are disappointed with the decision of the County Board, we are satisfied that our case was given a fair hearing. It has been confirmed that no rules were contravened in the awarding of the additional point to Ferbane. We extend our best wishes to Ferbane and to the other remaining teams as they continue their campaigns in this year’s championship.
"We also wish to place on record our respect for the match officials. We recognise the challenging nature of their role and greatly value the dedication, integrity, and commitment they contribute to the game.
"As a club, our attention now turns to the future, and we look forward with renewed focus to returning to the field of play in 2026," the statement added.
The statement from Shamrocks Executive Committee is as follows: "We would like to place on record our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Shamrocks players for their commitment and dedication throughout the year.
"While last Sunday’s result did not go as we had hoped, we remain immensely proud of our panel — both for their performance on the day and for the professionalism and attitude they displayed during the appeal process throughout the week. We are confident that, with this group of players, the club is in a strong position moving forward."
Ferbane will meet Edenderry in their Offaly SFC semi-final, with defending champions Tullamore facing Rhode in the other last-four clash.