UPDATED: 30/7/15, 12:09
Dublin and Clare camogie have reluctantly accepted an All-Ireland play-off match that will determine who will go on to face Wexford in the quarter-finals.
The pair will do battle this Saturday at 2pm in Semple Stadium, but the winner will only have a 48-hour turnaround before the quarter-final takes place this Bank Holiday Monday.
Speaking last night on Off The Ball, WGPA Chairperson Aoife Lane and Camogie Association's Joan O'Flynn debate coin toss controversy.
The reason this situation came about is as follows:
Both sides finished level on points in third place of Group Two of the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship (on three points each) and played out a 1-08 to 1-08 draw earlier in the campaign.
However, neither points difference nor a play-off was used to decide who would progress in the competition.
This was due to the fact that there was a “pre-determined procedure” that in the event of this occurrence, the drawing of lots would take place.
This procedure being in place resulted in both Clare and Dublin camogie teams lodging appeals.
These appeals were at first not considered as any decision taken by the the association's Ard Comhlaire cannot be appealed.
The ruling left both sides feeling that they had no other option but to withdraw from the championship.
This would have given Wexford a walkover into the semi-final and both Clare and Dublin issued stinging statements directed at the Camogie Association.
In a statement the Dublin Camogie board said: "The Executive of the Dublin County Board held a meeting on Tuesday 28 July and took the decision to withdraw it’s name from the drawing of lots (Coin Toss) to decide which team Dublin/Clare should progress to the quarter final stages of this years Senior All-Ireland Championship.”
Dublin Executive held a meeting last night and have decided to withdraw @CamogieDublin name from the #COINTOSS as have @ClareCamogie
— Dublin Camogie (@CamogieDublin) July 29, 2015
Bríd MacNamara, PRO of Clare Camogie, spoke to Newstalk yesterday morning, and gave this emotional rebuke of the actions of the Camogie Association, and the hurt it has caused the Clare camogie panel and those working with them.
She said "there are no words in my vocabulary that convey .. the hurt, the disappointment, absolute feeling of betrayal" at the decision.
Clare camogie also released a statement this morning which said "The Camogie Association has demonstrated their utter contempt and disdain for every player and member of the Association.
"How can a governing sporting body justify by any logic the Drawing of Lots(coin toss) to determine progression in Championship?
Clare Camogie have withdrawn from the drawing of lots. A decision that was not taken lightly and may have serious repercussions for the future of these players.
Clare Camogie demands more respect for its players and administrators than what is being levelled at them by the Camogie Association officials.
Fixtures and Structures are devised by Committee, ratified and implemented by Ard Chomhairle – Counties do not vote on these. There is no avenue to question this decision making as Ard Chomhairle hold the final say on all matters.
The decision by Ard Chomhairle not to adjudicate on the merit of Appeals lodged, shows the contempt with which the lower units of the Association are held.
The upset and mental anguish that has been forced upon players by the Association, will have deep and long lasting repercussions. Players are inconsolable and feel betrayed.
For an Association to deprive a team the opportunity to advance on merit is incomprehensible and indefensible. How can our most valuable asset, our players, be degraded and mis-treated.
Speaking on Newstalk Lunchtime with Jonathan Healy, Chairperson of the Women's Gaelic Players Association, Aoife Lane, made her feelings very clear regarding the issue.
"It's a mess, it's a shambles. It's hugely diappointing," she began.
"We've been speaking to the players and it's just the overwhelming devastation that both sets of players feel.
"At the minute consolations are ongoing and I don't think all is lost. I do think it's affected the reputation of camogie.
"But there's always a chance tosalvage something and I remain hopeful that common sense can prevail."
She was joined by former GAA president Sean Kelly on the show and he empathised with both sides on the matter.
"I can understand their opinion and the action they're taking, but unfortunately I can also see how this cancome about.
"Sometimes when motions come before congress and people don't think them out fully, next thing you know they're passed.
"It can be difficult to fit ladies football and camogie in with the hurling and football season in terms of booking pitches. But at the same time both teams have been landed in a situation that is beneficial to no one."
The decision to go ahead with the decision to draw lots (coin toss) was met with some resistance on social media:
And finally,claiming to 'not have power to overturn' is feeble.We're not changing law. Compromise.OfficialCamogie #cointoss #supporthersport
— Anne-Marie (@thecailinrua) July 28, 2015
@ClareCamogie @CamogieDublin why doesn't @OfficialCamogie push out QF and SF by a wk just like they did last yr #roseoftralee #infairness
— deirdre codd (@deedocod) July 29, 2015
This ..Is what it's all about ..why we play .. No rules will ever or could ever take this from us #TheLoveOfTheGame pic.twitter.com/921a8YvIya
— Rose Collins (@rosycollins) July 28, 2015
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