Door closes on possible replay

While no definitive decision regarding the possibility of a replay of Sunday's Leinster SFC final between Meath and Louth was expected until after last night's (Tuesday) specially convened Meath County Board executive meeting in Navan, it is now thought highly unlikely the offer of a replay will be forthcoming. Indications as we closed for press ahead of last night's meeting were that a replay will not be offered to Louth, although the management committee is understood to have voted on the matter at Monday night's meeting. There was no reference to that vote when the monthly County Committee meeting was convened 45 minutes behind schedule on Monday night after 24 hours of unprecedented controversy following the conclusion of Sunday's game, won in controversial circumstances by Meath with a last minute goal. The members of the all-powerful management committee had convened at 7.30pm on Monday evening and deliberated for almost two hours as the local and national media joined delegates in Teach na Teamhrach just outside Navan. Shortly after 9.15pm, chairman Barney Allen and his entourage emerged to a phalanx of reporters and photographers. The sense of anticipation was heightened when the chairman began the meeting, but the agenda was followed diligently with reports taken from the CCCC, hurling chairman, u-18 committee, development committee, finance committee and an array of other reports before the issue of Sunday's game was broached. "I suppose everyone is only interested in this item," remarked the chairman as he moved onto the fall-out from Sunday's Leinster SFC final. "We considered the matter at our management meeting and we also considered the contents of a statement we received from Croke Park," he said. "We have been informed by Croke Park that referee Martin Sludden admitted in his report that he had made a mistake by allowing Meath's goal to stand. We have also been informed that, under the current GAA rules and regulations, there is no facility for granting a replay," he added. Earlier on Monday, the Meath players themselves had discussed the matter, but declined the opportunity to get involved in the furore. Sunday's final will go down as one of the most controversial in GAA history as Meath snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with an injury-time Joe Sheridan goal. The dramatic conclusion would not have surprised Meath supporters accustomed to the thrill of a late comeback, but the closing stages at Croke Park on Sunday have been described as grotesque, unprecedented, bizarre and unbelievable. Sheridan's momentum, as he claimed possession from Louth's Dessie Finnegan, carried him over the goal line as he made a vain attempt to kick the ball. Meath fans celebrated as referee Martin Sludden initially awarded the goal in the dying seconds of the game. Following protests from several Louth players, he had a brief consultation with one umpire, who then raised the green flag to confirm the goal. The final whistle seconds later sparked some of the worst scenes ever witnessed at GAA headquarters as Louth players and manager Peter Fitzpatrick protested to the referee. This was followed by a pitch invasion and an attack on the referee by a number of Louth supporters. A match steward was also struck on the head by a half-full plastic soft drink bottle and had to receive medical attention and other bottles and missiles were seen being thrown from sections of the upper stands at Croke Park. Louth GAA County Board issued a statement on Tuesday morning in which they vowed to assist the Gardai and Croke Park officials with their investigations. Other incidents, both on and off the pitch after the game, have not been widely reported and there have been several allegations of assaults on Meath supporters following the final whistle. Former Meath and Ireland International Rules manager Sean Boylan was confronted as he congratulated Meath players from the Ard Comhairle section in Croke Park. Meath player Mark Ward, who was a substitute on Sunday, was struck in the face by a supporter as he stood on the pitch awaiting the presentation of the Delaney Cup. Having witnessed the carnage of the aftermath of the game, RTE's Pat Spillane took up the issue of a possible replay and much of the furore on the airwaves has concerned this possibility. Spillane's insistence that a replay should be fixed gathered momentum on Monday and the national media descended on Navan to discover the outcome of a county board meeting to discuss the possibility of offering Louth a second chance. That extended to Tuesday night when the board said they needed more time to come to a decision, and a special meeting was convened last night (Tuesday) to discuss the matter again. Late on Tuesday afternoon it emerged Leinster Council may intervene in the matter.