Council set to probe substitute wrangle

THE Leinster Council are to meet within the next 48 hours to determine if Offaly have forfeited their Leinster Championship victory by using one substitute too many in the three-point win over Kildare.

A statement issued last night read: “The Leinster Council of the GAA have stated that they are aware of uncertainty in relation to the position with regard to substitutions made in today’s Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Kildare and Offaly.

“The council have said that they will consider the full circumstances of the matter in the coming days.”

In the last few years, Kildare were relegated to Division Two of the league after being docked points for using one sub too many, while at the turn of the millennium Na Fianna and Sarsfields had to replay a Leinster club final because of it. With 15 minutes gone yesterday, James Coughlan replaced Pascal Kellaghan and, when he eventually reappeared in time for the second half, he did so not in place of Coughlan, but Trevor Phelan.

Because Coughlan did not reappear directly in place of the man who had filled in for him, it was thought that constituted the use of two independent substitutions.

Offaly made four other changes so didn’t that mean they had breached GAA rules? Not so, said Pierce Freaney, who was acting as assistant to the fourth official.

“The list of the substitutions is very simple, in our book anyway. There were five substitutions made and one blood. James Coughlan coming on for Pascal Kellaghan is a temporary sub, a blood sub. He is entitled to come back on and doesn’t have to replace the player who originally replaced him. There is no time limit on that. Remember the situation. The referee sends him off for treatment. If he sends him off, he can’t go off himself.”

“We are 150% sure that we are right. That question was on the referee’s exam this year. I definitely knew the answer. (Offaly) knew that as well. Fair dues to them. There is no issue.”

Gerry Cooney, who was standing in as Offaly manager for the suspended Kevin Kilmurray, admitted to feeling “two minutes of panic” after the whistle, but was confident they had done nothing to jeopardise the victory. “There’s no confusion. There’s no problem. We checked it with the (fourth official’s) table before we brought on our last sub, so there was never any question.”

Right then. That’s that sorted. But what about the game, Gerry?

“We’re just delighted to win. We got lashed the last day after Westmeath and it wasn’t as bad a game as you guys made out.

“We sat down and analysed the video and there was some good football played. It (the criticism) was a bit over the top. We regrouped and fellas fought hard after we lost a man halfway through the second-half.

“Kildare were putting it up to us at that stage and we finished strongly.”

Cooney’s words don’t do justice for how important a win this is for Offaly. After a decade in the wilderness, they now find themselves 70 minutes from their first Leinster final in 10 seasons.

For Kildare, it’s back to the drawing board. They did well to end at a gallop, playing the last 10 minutes with only 14 men, Karl Ennis departing injured after all five subs were used.

Small comfort for goalkeeper Enda Murphy, as he and his colleagues await their fate in the qualifiers.

“We’re going to have to look at the goals we conceded. We haven’t a great record in the qualifiers, but that will have to change this year.”