Kilkenny `reluctantly accept ruling' on cup

Kilkenny City have abandoned plans to take legal action to prevent Finn Harps' FAI Cup semi-final tie against Galway United, going ahead at Terryland Park on Sunday.

In common with many the First Division club felt it was unfairly treated when the FAI's Appeals Commission refused to overturn a decision by the Board of Management, in awarding their aborted quarter-final replay to the Donegal club.

They still contend that to undertake a game of such stature with only 12 fit players, including a reserve goalkeeper, would have been to risk bringing the competition into disrepute.

Now the same sentiments have coloured their decision not to proceed with legal action, just 72 hours before Sunday's televised fixture.

"We have been kicked in the teeth but rather than demean the competition still further, we are reluctantly accepting the ruling," said the Kilkenny secretary, Jim Rhatigan.

"We believe that this season's FAI Cup has been tainted by bad sportsmanship and we're particularly disappointed that Finn Harps let down a fellow provincial club."

"Five minutes of common sense could have cancelled 23 days of football lunacy. We only asked for common sense and courtesy. All we got was arrogance and injustice.

"We now know there is a distinction between football people and people in football."

Meanwhile, Shelbourne are still uncertain if they will be able to count on the assorted skills of Tony Sheridan, Declan Geoghegan and Tony McCarthy when they face Bray Wanderers in the first of the semi-final ties at Tolka Park tomorrow afternoon (5.30).

All three took knocks in last Sunday's 1-0 defeat by Derry City at the Brandywell and are now required to prove their recovery at the team's final training session this evening.

With Dave Campbell already ruled out by injury and Ritchie Baker deployed on duty with the Republic of Ireland's under-20 squad in Nigeria, manager Dermot Keely is confessing to some apprehension, ahead of the fitness tests.

In one respect at least, however, he feels well prepared for the challenge of beating Bray and moving one step closer to the all consuming goal of qualifying for the final for a fifth consecutive year.

Stephen Geoghegan, one of the most prolific scorers in the club's history, is back on song and in that, there is, indeed, justifiable cause for optimism in the Shelbourne camp.

In terms of championship competition, it has not been one of his more rewarding seasons. However, his touch in and around the penalty area has been as assured as ever in the cup.

It was his goal which opened the way to a 3-0 success over Shamrock Rovers in the first round and after poaching the winner next time out against Bohemians, he struck on the double to end Derry's hopes in the quarter-finals.

"A striker on form is a priceless asset going into any semi-final" says Keely. "There were times when he may have felt that his luck had run out in the championship but once the cup arrived, we were watching a different player."