Kilcar have decided not to lodge a fresh appeal against the result of the 2020 Donegal SFC final.

The Towney-based club lost the Covid-delayed final - which wasn't played until last August - to Naomh Conaill in a penalty shootout after extra-time had failed to separate the teams. Kilcar subsequently appealed the result on the basis that Naomh Conaill used four substitutes - as opposed to the permitted three - during extra-time, leading to a re-fixture being ordered by the Donegal CCC.

However, the decision was overturned following a Naomh Conaill appeal to the Ulster Council, who ordered that the process begin again.

Following another meeting of Donegal CCC, the Glenties club were fined €5,000, but were allowed to hold onto the Dr Maguire Cup. Despite being insensed by this decision, Kilcar have decided to bring the long-running saga to an end.

In a hard-hitting statement, they said: "We are shocked and appalled that the decision arising from this finding has imposed what we consider to be the most lenient of penalties, a paltry monetary fine.

"This decision has the material effect of awarding a Donegal Senior Championship title to a club that has been found to be in breach of the CLG playing rules.

"We are of the opinion that this decision risks setting a dangerous precedent that has potential to cause irreparable damage to the integrity of the Donegal Senior Championship - a competition that has been to date, held in the highest esteem by all clubs within the county – and to our games generally.

"Furthermore, the decision is completely undermining, in our view, of the GAA's Code of Behaviour (Underage). This sends a terrible message out to the young people in whom all our clubs work consistently to nurture the core values of integrity, honourable sportsmanship and fair-play, in line with the fundamental values cherished in the Association from its foundation.

"CLG Chill Chartha holds this decision, therefore, in utter contempt. However, distasteful as it is, we have decided that to appeal the decision further would not be in our club’s, our players’, our members’ and our supporters’, or the Association’s best interests."

 

Statement from the Club Executive To the Members, Players and Supporters of C.L.G Cill Chartha https://t.co/DxBiBRMeCU

— CLG Chill Chartha (@CLGChillChartha) February 8, 2022

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