Offally have been given the go ahead to play their Leinster senior football semi-final against Wexford after the GAA Disputes Resolution Authority deemed their use of substitutes legal when playing Kildare in the quarters.
In a decision made in the early hours of this morning the DRA found that Offaly did not break any rules when returning Pascal Kellaghan to the field after the full forward was forced off with a blood injury.
Kellaghan was replaced initially by James Coughlan but returned to the pitch in the second half in the place of Trevor Phelan.
Offaly won the game 3-09 to 0-15 and pressure was immediately put on the GAA to clarify the rule.
Last night's decision does little in that refard, but nonetheless relegates Kildare to the qualifiers where they will face Cavan.
Offaly will play Wexford in Croke Park this Sunday for a final place against either Dublin or Laois, who play at headquarters a week later.
Kildare have indicated that although disappointed, they are now happy to let the matter rest. However, they also stressed the need to fully clarify the rule on blood subs and intend to raise the matter in Congress next year.
"We are disappointed to lose our case as we still believe the Blood Substitution Rule is open to serious abuse in its current format," a statement released this afternoon read..
"So concerned are we about this situation that it is our intention to put a motion forward to next years Congress to address the confusion on the blood subs rule.
"Having been madated by the clubs of Kildare to follow all routes of appeal in our attempt to seek clarification we have now done so and we will now move on with all our minds focused in supporting the Kildare senior football team in their qualifier game against Cavan."