CREGGAN have lodged an appeal over their defeat by Lamh Dhearg over a ‘16th man’ incident in Sunday’s Antrim SFC quarter-final.
Their complaint is understood to centre on a passage of play early in the second half of normal time where Lamh Dhearg appeared to have 16 players on the field.
The Hannahstown men won a free during the time of the apparent offence, which Paddy Cunningham then pointed.
The Lámhs later kicked an equaliser deep into stoppage time to force extra-time, after which they emerged victorious by 0-15 to 0-13.
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If Creggan are able to prove their objection then it would appear almost certain that Antrim CCC will be forced to order a replay of the game.
The precedent set by Glen’s appeal against a similar incident in the All-Ireland club final of 2022/23, where they were granted a replay before withdrawing their objection and allowing Kilmacud to remain as champions, was followed through in Cork last year.
Their senior A hurling semi-final between Blarney and Bride Rovers was replayed after Rovers had a 16th man on the field during a crucial passage in extra-time.
Blarney went on to win the replay having lost the first game in a penalty shootout.
A club spokesman for Creggan Kickham’s confirmed to The Irish News that an objection has been put forward.
“The club can confirm an objection has been lodged to Antrim CCC in relation to the result of the weekend’s quarter-final game with Lamh Dhearg.”
If the objection is proven and a replay is set, the clubs are entitled to at least four days’ (96 hours’) notice before the time of the game.
That means any potential refixture is unlikely to take place until at least Tuesday night, if not beyond that should Lámh Dhearg lodge a counter-objection if the original decision goes against them.
At least one of the semi-finals, if not both, are likely to have to be pushed back as a result, if not the final as well.
Lámh Dhearg are due to play Portglenone as it stands, although there was controversy over that as well.
Antrim CCC had published their fixtures earlier in the year with preordained semi-finals that would have been Cargin v Portglenone and St Brigid’s v Lamh Dhearg as it stands now.
But somewhere along the way that got changed and they decided to hold a draw after the last quarter-final on Sunday, resulting in a repeat of the league final in which St Brigid’s beat Cargin.
Portglenone are due to face Lámh Dhearg in the other semi-final but that in itself is now in doubt, with Lámh Dhearg’s place in the last four under threat if the objection is proven.
As things are right now the semi-finals are due on the weekend of September 28/29.