THE GAA is to investigate the events surrounding the refereeing controversy that overshadowed last weekend's Down SFC final between Kilcoo and Burren.
In an email circulated to clubs on Wednesday, Down secretary Sean Og McAteer said the county board had made a request to GAA director general Tom Ryan to “establish an independent review of this episode”.
The Association has accepted the request, and an investigation is due to commence.
According to sources within the Down County Board, it was felt they were in need of support from Croke Park as the matter continues to rumble on from the weekend.
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This latest development follows Monday’s statement from Down GAA, in which they hit out at Kilcoo for their "entirely baseless" decision to appeal against the appointment of referee Paul Faloon.
The Magpies had initially lodged an internal objection to the county hearings committee then, when that was rejected, the matter was brought to the GAA’s Disputes Resolution Authority. That appeal was turned down on Saturday morning.
Meath whistler David Gough agreed to take control on Saturday evening but, at around 11.30am on Sunday, decided to withdraw. Standby referee Brian Higgins eventually presided over the Down decider, which Kilcoo won by nine points to claim an 11th county crown in 12 years.
Karl Lacey’s side will face the winner of Sunday’s Fermanagh final between Erne Gaels and Derrygonnelly in the Ulster preliminary round on November 5.
Meanwhile, it appears increasingly unlikely that Down referees will take strike action this weekend, with the hurling deciders and U20 football championship games expected to go ahead as scheduled.
As it stands, all referees have accepted the games to which they have been assigned and, with the junior hurling final between East Belfast and Kilclief taking place on Friday evening, that is not expected to change.
Defending champions Portaferry take on Ballycran in Sunday’s Down SHC decider, with rivals Carryduff and Bredagh facing off in Saturday’s intermediate final at Pairc Esler.
