Turloughmore have expressed their disappointment after the DRA upheld the Galway CCC's decision to eject them from the county SHC for fielding an ineligible player against Beagh in September.

The case held up the Galway SHC for six weeks before it finally resumed last Sunday when Beagh defeated Ardrahan in the quarter-final. Beagh will now face local rivals Gort in this weekend's semi-final, with the winners taking on All-Ireland champions Portumna in the county final on December 14.

A statement issued by Turloughmore yesterday read: "The members and players of the Turloughmore hurling club wish to express their disappointment at the decision of the DRA on Monday the 17th of November to uphold the sanction of forfeiture imposed on them by the Galway CCC.

"As previously stated by the DRA this sanction was draconian in nature. Turloughmore hurling club pride itself in the participation and development of Hurling. Down the years the club has played in all facets of competition from county finals to relegation matches. All these games were played within the white lines and in defeat or victory our players always shook hands with their opponents and wished them well.

"Due to the investigation and ultimately the decision of the Galway CCC, it was with great reluctance that Turloughmore hurling club found itself fighting for their championship existence within the confines of a board room.

"As a club, in existence for over 100 years, we have always endeavoured to extol the virtues of pride,commitment, respect and honour for our young players and will continue to promote this.

"That said the club feels that there needs to be a hard look at the official rule book of the GAA where a club member who has played all his hurling from the age of 6 to senior level is deemed ineligible or worse still called "illegal" to play for his own club because he played a match - a hurling match don't forget - 3,000 miles away.

"This kind of rule, which has been breached by numerous clubs, must be seen as outdated in a time when young people are leaving the county to gain some employment or further their studies and are playing matches while in that country. It does not sit right when a game of hurling in America influences the outcome of a championship in Ireland.

"The ultimate irony at the end of this saga, was that Turloughmore could have taken part in the Senior Hurling Shield competition and that Matthew Keating could have played in that! 

"The members, players and the community of Turloughmore would like to express their gratitude for all the support they received from GAA people, supporters and other clubs throughout the county and beyond over the past few weeks and the club regrets any inconvenience caused by the delay in the championship to the teams remaining in the competition."

Tweet

Most Read Stories