Na Fianna’s court appeal ends in disappointment

NA FIANNA officials last night extended their best wishes to those remaining teams in the Dublin SFC, after their High Court appeal ended in disappointment yesterday.

The Dublin champions were appealing against the decision to dismiss them from the county championship for fielding six substitutes in their quarter-final win over Raheny, but found no solace in the High Court.

Mr Justice Thomas Smith ruled that the case was not a legal matter but a football matter and, as such, should be settled in accordance with the GAA rule book.

Na Fianna then signalled their intention not to pursue the case in the Supreme Court.

As a result, the semi-final tie between UCD and Raheny is free to go ahead on Sunday morning at 11am in Parnell Park.

Na Fianna spokesman Jim Aughney wished the best to the pair as well as St Vincent’s who are waiting in the final.

He said: “We’re desperately disappointed to have lost the case but Dublin will now, more than likely, have a representative in the Leinster championship next weekend and that is very important.

“Again we’re disappointed that the judge basically told us to abide by the GAA rules which we were appealing against. But we won’t be taking it any further, as far as we’re concerned this is an end to it.”

Following the lifting of the interlocutory injunction which kept the UCD/Raheny tie from going ahead last weekend, the Dublin SFC now faces a race against time to field a representative against Rathnew of Wicklow tomorrow week in Aughrim.

There was also a significant worry that the Na Fianna club would be hit hard financially after losing out.

But a source confirmed the loss will not impinge on the running of the club.

The source said: “We wouldn’t have taken the case if we didn’t feel we could survive in the event of a loss.”