Kiladangan’s Junior Camog’s remain in limbo

By Shane Brophy

Kiladangan’s junior ‘A’ camogie team remain in limbo due to a lengthy hold up in discovering who their opponents will be in the county final.

The delay has arisen following a dispute over the outcome of the semi-final between Gortnahoe/Glengoole and St Rita's Fethard, which took place on September 26th last.

The sides could not be separated after normal time or extra time, meaning the match was to be decided by a shootout of 45s, in accordance with regulations outlined by Tipperary Camogie prior to the commencement of the championship.

Gortnahoe emerged victorious, booking their place in the county final against Kiladangan who had beaten Moyle Rovers earlier in that day. However, the result was subsequently challenged by St Rita's, who lodged an appeal to the Tipperary Camogie Board on the grounds that the game should have been decided by penalties rather than 45s.

The Camogie Association's national regulations allow for either penalties or 45s to be used to determine the outcome of games, with the choice of which method to use left to the discretion of individual county boards.

Tipperary Camogie had contacted all notified clubs prior to the start of the championship, outlining that 45s would be used to decide games in the event of a draw.

St Rita's were initially successful in their appeal to Tipperary Camogie. However, that decision was subsequently challenged by Gortnahoe/Glengoole, who appealed to Munster Camogie who overturned the decision of Tipperary Camogie Board, seemingly clearing the way for Gortnahoe/Glengoole to take their place in the county final.

However, last week St Rita's indicated they would lodge a further appeal to the national camogie body in an effort to overturn the Munster decision which meant the provisional final date of last Sunday had to be shelved.

The latest development means the conclusion of the Junior ‘A’ Championship remains on hold. The Tipperary champions do not progress to the Munster and All-Ireland Championship in the junior grade so there is no pressure to expedite the process but weather and ground conditions have certainly changed since a sliotar was last pucked in anger in this competition.