Laois win over Armagh in doubt
June 21, 2016
Laois goalkeeper Graham Brody catches over Niall Grimley of Armagh during their All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers Round 1A clash at O'Moore Park, Portlaoise.
©INPHO/Tom Beary.
The validity of Laois' Qualifier victory over Armagh is in doubt after it emerged that the O'Moore County used too many substitutes.
The midlanders recorded a 1-10 to 0-10 win over the Orchard County in Portlaoise on Saturday but there is a possibility that they will not be permitted to take their place against Clare in the Round 2A Qualifiers as they used seven substitutes rather than the permitted six.
The Irish Examiner first reported that having already used six replacements, manager Mick Lillis introduced Shane Murphy in place of the black-carded Brendan Quigley three minutes into injury time.
If, as suspected, none of the seven changes made were temporary substitutions for blood injuries, then Laois will be adjudged by the Central Competitions Controls Committee to have broken the rules and the penalty for this is that they will either forfeit the game or be fined.
While expulsion would seem extremely harsh, there is a precedent involving a Kieran McGeeney side: in 2002, the current Armagh manager's Na Fianna - defending Dublin senior football champions - were booted out of the Dublin SFC when found to have used six subs instead of the permitted five in their quarter-final win over Raheny, who were awarded the game.
