Stormy times in soccer circles

Oldcastle Utd have appealed a five-year suspension to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) which the Leinster Football Association (LFA) imposed on Jimmy Smith last week. The appeal process meant that Smith was eligible to turn out for his club on Friday night in the final of the Gerry Reilly Memorial Cup against Dundalk side Woodview Celtic at the MDL, Navan. The Louth team won the decider with the only goal of the game, but needed extra-time. Oldcastle appealed the LFA ruling at a cost of €500 in a bid to get the decision over-turned. The north Meath club had appealed, to the LFA, the Meath & District League's decision to impose a three-year ban on the player arising out of a red card which Smith received in an earlier round of the Reilly Cup. Midland Branch referee Donal Sweeney issued a red card to the Oldcastle player following an incident with a player from the Electro Celtic. Arising out of that report, the MDL disciplinary committee imposed a three-year ban. Dissatisfied with that decision, Oldcastle appealed to the LFA at a cost of €200. The provincial body deemed that the MDL had been too lenient on the Oldcastle player and duly added another two years to the ban. Now Oldcastle have to hope that they might get some leniency from the FAI. The Reilly Cup has proved to be a problematic competition this season for the MDL. A game between Kells / Blackwater and Drogheda Town was abandoned by Meath Branch referee John Barry when the Louth side went down to six players after they collected five red cards. Kells / Blackwater were 3-1 ahead at the time. Arising out of an investigation, the MDL awarded the game to Drogheda Town and threw Kells / Blackwater out of the competition for using an ineligible player. It is understood that Kells / Blackwater listed a player on the match card who didn't play in the game. Drogheda then made the semi-final against Oldcastle which the Meath side won by 3-2 last week. The MDL then had to find a substitute referee and assistant-referees for that game after it emerged that members of the Meath Branch (ISRS), who were appointed for the game, were unavailable to officiate. Members of the Cavan / Monaghan Branch (ISRS) deputised. Sunday's Div 2 play-off between Kentstown and Kells / Blackwater was similarly afflicted and the Cavan / Monaghan Brach deputised again. A number of Meath Branch referees were present at the ground, as spectators. The Louth Branch (ISRS) officiated at the play-off between Torro Utd and Cavan Town when it also emerged that Meath Branch referees were unavailable. When contacted by the Meath Chronicle this week, Meath Branch (ISRS) chairman John Regan confirmed that a meeting would take place this week with the MDL committee. "There is an issue, it has been on-going all season, we are meeting the MDL this week and hopefully we can get the matter resolved," he commented.