Football

Aghagallon take their place in first-ever Antrim SFC final after Portglenone drop query

St Mary's Aghagallon will play in their first ever Antrim SFC final on Sunday November 14 against Kickham's Creggan Picture Mark Marlow.
St Mary's Aghagallon will play in their first ever Antrim SFC final on Sunday November 14 against Kickham's Creggan Picture Mark Marlow. St Mary's Aghagallon will play in their first ever Antrim SFC final on Sunday November 14 against Kickham's Creggan Picture Mark Marlow.

ST MARY’S Aghagallon will take their place in this season’s Antrim SFC final after defeated semi-finalists Portglenone decided not pursue their query over competition rules being infringed.

While Portglenone believed an appeal to the Ulster Council would have been successful, they said: “Our club prides itself on integrity and sportsmanship and we wish both Kickham’s Creggan and St Mary’s Aghagallon the best of luck for the final.”

In a statement, Portglenone wished to make clear “that at no stage had an appeal been submitted, despite contradictory reports.”

The statement read: “Following our semi-final match against St Mary’s Aghagallon on Sunday 31st October, Roger Casements Portglenone sought clarification from Antrim CCC regarding the “finish on the day” protocol applied during this game.

“The committee of the club met to discuss the response provided by Antrim CCC. This response, in our opinion, confirmed that the game was not completed in accordance with the ratified 2021 Championship regulations and also acknowledged that Antrim clubs had been “inadvertently issued the incorrect document”.

“This had led to much confusion and uncertainty both during and after completion of the game for both players and match day officials. The club remains of the opinion that there was a serious breach of rule and an appeal to Ulster Council would have been successful.

“However, the club has decided not to pursue an appeal process and wish to make it clear that at no stage had an appeal been submitted, despite contradictory reports.

“Our club prides itself on integrity, fair play and sportsmanship and we wish both Kickham’s Creggan and St Mary’s Aghagallon the best of luck for the final.”

Both Aghagallon and Portglenone played two periods of extra-time in Dunsilly last Sunday to decide a winner when competition rules dictated only one period of extra-time was required before moving the game to penalties.

Aghagallon won a compelling game, 1-19 to 1-18.

Earlier yesterday, semi-final winners St Mary’s Aghagallon broke their silence on Portglenone’s decision to seek clarity on the competition rules that caused the furore.

In a press statement, St Mary’s said they were “disappointed to learn” Roger Casements Portglenone had lodged an “appeal/objection” – a charge later denied by their opponents.

St Mary’s said: “Both clubs and match officials were informed by county officials at the end of normal time that a second period of extra-time was to be played if required. No objections were raised by either ourselves or Portglenone.”

The statement added: “This is news that no young person should have to wake up to having given everything for their jersey the previous day.”

St Mary’s said the game was won and lost where it should be - “on the field of play”.

In Sunday’s other semi-final, Kickham’s Creggan caused a major upset by knocking out defending champions Cargin in an enthralling encounter at St Enda’s.

Gerard McNulty’s men trailed 2-5 to 0-7 at the break but managed to win by three points.

Creggan will be seeking to end their 67-year search for a senior title on Sunday November 14 after finishing runner-up to Cargin in both the 2018 and 2020 deciders.

This will be Aghagallon’s first-ever senior final appearance.