OPINION: Another fine mess as Connacht Junior Cup semi-final between Castlebar Celtic and Salthill Devon to be replayed

THE news that the Connacht Junior Cup semi-final between Castlebar Celtic and Salthill Devon has to be replayed following a successful appeal by the Galway side, was a major surprise. The basis of the appeal is that the association broke its own rules.

In an opinion piece in The Mayo News of Tuesday May 7, this writer pointed to a rule that had not been implemented for the original semi-final which Celtic won 1-0. The rule, Section 24 of the ‘Connacht Football Association’s Amateur & Youth Competition Rules 2023- 2024’ states:

‘The Referee and assistants for Semi Finals and Finals shall be chosen by the Association and shall not be from the same area from which competing teams are from except for the two teams being from the same area.’

The officials appointed by the Connacht FA were from Mayo, and this was the root of Salthill’s appeal. The Mayo News understands that the Mayo referees highlighted this issue to the Mayo League when the appointment of officials was made. The Mayo League then raised the matter with Connacht and the word that came back was, go ahead.

Salthill won their appeal on Thursday night with Connacht ruling that the match has to be replayed on May 26 with the final, the following week.

No matter how you look at it, the Connacht FA got this one wrong. They broke their own rules and have created a fine mess in the process.

Celtic have three options. They can play the match. They can appeal to the FAI, or they can forfeit the game by refusing to play.

If they play the match, the atmosphere at Celtic Park will likely be hostile to Salthill Devon, when they take to the field. That would be unfortunate because Salthill didn’t break the rule. If Celtic win that, they then have to play a final a week later, and The Mayo News understands that a number of their players will be unavailable on that date.

An appeal to the FAI would seem likely to confirm the Connacht ruling. Although with the FAI anything is possible.

If Celtic decide not to play on a point of principle, then Salthill will proceed to the final as Celtic will have forfeited the tie.

One of the reasons put forward, unofficially, at the time, for the appointment of Mayo referees, was a shortage of referees from external counties. Referees will have to be found now, for Sunday week. And The Mayo News has, in recent weeks, pointed to a shortage of referees within Mayo. If there is a shortage, the leagues and Connacht FA should deal with that. They must provide leadership. 

The whole business casts the Connacht FA in a poor light. Numerous attempts to contact that body on Friday afternoon, failed. Celtic, Salthill Devon and The Mayo League were also unavailable for comment.

This the Connacht Cup – that association’s own elite competition. It is not something foisted upon them from some external body. They have presided over an unnecessary mess, entirely of their own making with consequences for two clubs, neither of whom broke any rules, and for the wider game. Is it too much to expect a provincial association to follow its own rules? Apparently so.