30 players involved in fracas
22.10.10
Malin v Aodh Ruadh,
Saturday 23 October, Connolly Park, Malin, at 4.30pm
by Damian Dowds, Inishowen
Independent
MALIN and Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon will lock horns again
in Connolly Park on Saturday night (throw-in 4.30pm)
after the Donegal Competitions Control Committee (CCC)
ruled that last weekend’s abandoned game should be
replayed.
Welcoming the decision, Malin secretary David Gallagher
said the club was delighted with the outcome. “The
decision was a fair one,” he said. “We’re delighted that
we will get the chance to win promotion on the field of
play.”
Last Saturday’s crucial Division 2 clash between the
sides was abandoned after just eight minutes by referee
Paddy McBride. The Downings match official took the
decision when most of the 30 players became involved in
a fracas on the pitch with punches flying in from all
angles. Despite appeals from Malin officials to continue
with the game, McBride was not for turning and the CCC
met on Monday night to discuss what course of action
should be followed. The committee ordered a replay and
fined the clubs to the tune of €250 each. No player
involved in the melee has been suspended. |
Interestingly, the CCC have
appointed top referee Jimmy White (Killybegs) to take
charge of Saturday’s replay and, in an unusual if not
unprecedented move for a regular league game, have
appointed neutral linesmen, namely, John Farren (Urris)
and JJ Lafferty (Carndonagh).
The decision to order a replay at the same venue will
come as a tremendous relief to promotion chasing Malin
as club members feared that the game could have been
ruled void and the club’s chance to win promotion would
depend on a series of play-offs with Glenfin,
Cloughaneely and Mac Cumhaill’s.
As it is, victory for Malin will ensure promotion to
Division 1 while regardless of Saturday’s result Aodh
Ruadh are in a relegation play-off with Fanad Gaels.
Admission to Saturday’s game will be free of charge.
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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