Drama abounds in Longford where the senior football championship is up-in-the-air on the back of an official objection from St Columba's, Mullinalaghta.
A phantom point in their clash with Carrickredmond has had huge implications not only in terms of qualification but also relegation.
St Columba's dispute that, in their final round group game clash, Carrickredmond were credited with a point that was never scored.
Referee David Tiernan had the half-time score as 2-6 to 0-6 in favour of Mullinalaghta but footage shows it should have been 2-6 to 0-5.
That point led to a draw rather than a one point win for Mullinalaghta and having re-watched the game on Clubber, Balls can confirm that it would have been a one point win for the 2018 Leinster champions if the scores were tallied correctly.
Carrickredmond came from ten down in the game to seal what they believed to be a remarkable draw in the sixth minute of injury time. Eoin McCormack's last gasp salvo sparked wild scenes of celebration on their bench as they thought it was the score that would save them from relegation trouble, sending them through to the quarters instead.
But the outcome is anyone's guess now.
According to the GAA rule-book, “A score that was incorrectly recorded by the referee, thereby affecting the result of the game" could see a result over-turned, awarding the game to Mullinalaghta.
But then an inevitable counter-appeal from Carrickredmond would see the competition delayed.
Group implications
The point saved Carrickredmond from a relegation play-off, sending them to a quarter final instead. It sent Dromard into a relegation play-off and it also changes the entire complexion of the quarter final draw.
The table below is on the Longford GAA website currently, giving the game as a draw.
Dromard would be fifth instead of fourth in the below instance because score difference would be tallied only from the games involving the four teams on five points.
The Longford CCC now have a big job on their hands with the quarter finals scheduled for next weekend potentially set to be delayed.
