Sport

Action expected on Christy Ring Cup final farce

Antrim's James Connolly is left bewildered at the end of Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final against Meath at Croke Park<br />Picture by Philip Walsh &nbsp;
Antrim's James Connolly is left bewildered at the end of Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final against Meath at Croke Park
Picture by Philip Walsh  
Antrim's James Connolly is left bewildered at the end of Saturday's Christy Ring Cup final against Meath at Croke Park
Picture by Philip Walsh  

ACTION to address the Christy Ring Cup final controversy is to be taken between Sunday night and Monday.

Antrim were denied extra-time against Meath on Saturday evening - and the possibility of a place in next year's Leinster SHC Qualifiers - due to incorrect scorekeeping. The Royals were awarded a 2-18 to 1-20 victory despite only scoring 2-17, but match referee John O'Brien has reportedly subsequently acknowledged his error.

Antrim are due to discuss the matter at their monthly management committee meeting on Monday night, when they are expected to formally request a replay. The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee is understood to be due to convene on Tuesday to discuss the final scoreline at Croke Park.

Meath PRO Martin O'Halloran could not be contacted on Sunday, while the GAA declined to comment. Antrim chairman Collie Donnelly, meanwhile, said: "We have a county management meeting on Monday night and there's no doubt it will be on the agenda.

"Our expectation would be that there would be a replay, whether it's for the Christy Ring or promotion to the Liam MacCarthy, these things can be teased out. I think Croke Park want a quick solution."

Antrim management team member Terence McNaughton believed the GAA would have to order a replay to "save face": "Well, the referee has to own up to his mistake, doesn't he? There's obviously video evidence. The referee has to stand up and say: 'I got this wrong', and he wasn't helped by whoever was working the scoreboard…

"I think there has to be a replay, for the GAA to save face, there has to be".