Offaly fear ruling fallout

Gaelic GamesOffaly manager Kevin Kilmurray fears the fallout from today's GAA Central Council meeting - to decide whether the blood substitution rule was implemented correctly in last Sunday's Leinster championship football quarter-final against Kildare - could sour relations between the counties over the coming decade.

Offaly are facing a potential fine and may be forced to replay a match they won 3-9 to 0-15 if found guilty of breaking rule 113(b) of the official guide or GAA match regulation 11.

"Everyone has to examine their own conscience at this stage," says Kilmurray. "The players all know one another and they are all good friends. And this is not going to help anything over the next decade between Offaly and Kildare, and that is the sad aspect to it. Most of those players would be of the opinion - let's win it on the field. I'm talking for Kildare and Offaly."

Kilmurray was absent from the line last Sunday due to suspension but in the immediate aftermath of the game two members of the Offaly management team - Ollie Fahy and Gerry Cooney - insisted they had received a green light from the assistant to the fourth official Pierce Freaney to introduce James Keane for John Reynolds in the 70th minute.

Freaney confirmed as much an hour after the game. "There is no mistake here. This is as clear as could be. (We are) 120 per cent (certain). As a matter of fact that question, what you are asking me, was a question on the referees' exam this year. There is no issue."

Kilmurray also refused to lay blame at the doorstep of the fourth officials.

"We have accepted Pierce Freaney as totally non-responsible. The blame game will not enter into our minds. I'm totally confused - and I'm saying this before any decision has been reached - as to the purpose of the official on the line if something like this cannot be run against them. He did stop Kildare putting in an extra sub.

"If you are playing golf tomorrow morning and you needed a ruling, the referee's ruling would be accepted as a fait accompli, with no exceptions. That's where most people are coming from. On Sunday both officials accepted the advice they were given. And the advice was given with 100 per cent genuineness."

The Central Council meeting will be held in camera and will agree the text of the rule changes from April's annual congress as well as seeking to provide clarification on the rule governing "blood" replacements.

GAA match regulation 11.2 regarding the return of a player from a blood injury states: "(i) When the player who had the blood injury is ready to resume playing, he shall present himself to the linesman at the substitution zone and await authorisation from the linesman before entering the field of play.

"(iii) The player shall only enter the field of play on the authorisation of the linesman."

In the game, Pascal Kellaghan was withdrawn after 14 minutes to receive treatment to a head wound and was replaced by James Coughlan who subsequently stayed on the field until the 63rd minute. Kellaghan returned as an official replacement for Trevor Phelan after half-time.