Gaelic Games

Christy Ring final due to be replayed on Saturday in Newry

Meath to discuss practicalities of rearrangement at county board meeting on Wednesday

Seán Quigley celebrates scoring Meath’s winning point in injury time during the Christy Ring Cup Final against Antrim at Croke Park. The GAA confirmed on Tuesday that the game ended in a draw and that it will be replayed on Saturday. Photograph: Tom Beary/Inpho
Seán Quigley celebrates scoring Meath’s winning point in injury time during the Christy Ring Cup Final against Antrim at Croke Park. The GAA confirmed on Tuesday that the game ended in a draw and that it will be replayed on Saturday. Photograph: Tom Beary/Inpho
Tue Jun 07 2016 - 17:57

The GAA has ordered that the Christy Ring Cup final between Meath and Antrim be replayed after confirming an error in the final scoreline.

Meath were crowned champions last Saturday but an investigation proved the assertion that the referee had made a mistake in his final tot, in which he had the Royal County one point, 2-18 to 1-20, ahead at the final whistle.

A GAA statement read: “At a scheduled CCCC meeting this morning (Tuesday) the issue of last weekend’s Christy Ring Cup final was discussed. Following consideration of the referee’s report, it has been confirmed that the final score of the game was recorded incorrectly and that the game did finish in a draw (Antrim 1-20, Meath 2-17). The final will now be replayed on Saturday, June 11th in Páirc Esler, Newry (7.0).”

There remained uncertainty on Tuesday afternoon over whether Meath would agree to take part in the replay of the final, as scheduled. In the immediate aftermath sources in the county had stated that it would be impractical for their players, some of whom intend to leave for the US this summer, to play another match.

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Croke Park official sources say that there has been no indication from Meath as to what they plan to do but that a replay has been fixed and “on that basis we would expect them to play”.

According to county PRO Martin O’Halloran, who described the situation as “most unsatisfactory”, the Meath management committee will discuss the matter at a meeting on Wednesday evening.

“We are waiting for the full outcome from the CCCC meeting earlier today and our county board management will meet tomorrow to discuss this further.”

Antrim officials had called for the replay after a meeting on Monday night.

The winner of the match is promoted to the Leinster Hurling Championship next season, going directly to the quarter-final stage. GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghaíl had earlier ruled out the idea that both sides would be promoted.