Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Na Fianna likely to be ordered to play-off for quarter-final spot
Next week's scheduled SFC quarter-final between St Colmcille's and Donaghmore/Ashbourne looks set to be called off following a decision by Leinster Council to uphold Na Fianna's appeal against their omission from the last eight of the race for the Keegan Cup.
Following their 0-9 to 1-7 loss to Donaghmore/Ashbourne in their final game of Group A of the SFC last Friday night Na Fianna were eliminated from the championship by virtue of having scored less than Donaghmore/Ashbourne across the course of the group stages.
At the conclusion of Group A Na Fianna, Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Curraha all finished tied on two points having recorded one win each. However, because Donaghmore/Ashbourne beat Na Fianna, Na Fianna beat Curraha and Curraha defeated Donaghmore/Ashbourne the head-to-head rule couldn't be used to determine qualification.
The next criteria came down to scoring difference, but with Donaghmore/Ashbourne on -1 and Na Fianna also on -1 another criteria was necessary to separate them, with Curraha now out of the running having finished with a scoring difference of -4.
The third necessary criteria, according to Meath GAA rules, is that the team that scored the most then comes into play and on those calculations Donaghmore/Ashbourne's aggregate of 38 points was superior to Na Fianna's 33 points and therefore it was the Moores who advanced to the quarter-final where they were drawn to play St Colmcille's, while Na Fianna were condemned to a relegation play-off against Seneschalstown.
However, Na Fianna appealed to Leinster Council believing that only the scores involving the three teams that were tied on two points should have been considered when it came to determining score difference.
That meant that Na Fianna had a superior scoring difference of +3 from their games against Curraha and Donaghmore/Ashbourne, compared to Donaghmore/Ashbourne's zero scoring difference following a one point win over Na Fianna and a one point loss to Curraha.
Na Fianna appealed to replace Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the quarter-finals on those grounds, but while Leinster Council agreed that they have a justifiable case, but they refused to award them the place in the quarter-finals on the grounds of 'natural justice' and, according to sources, have ordered Meath GAA to fix a play-off between Na Fianna and Donaghmore/Ashbourne to determine who will go through to the quarter-finals and who will drop into the relegation mire.
It is unclear if Donaghmore/Ashbourne will appeal that decision or indeed if Meath GAA will appeal Leinster Council's ruling.
Given that teams need 96 hours notice for a championship fixture any proposed play-off between Na Fianna and Donaghmore/Ashbourne won't be played before next Friday and that will mean that St Colmcille's and Seneschalstown will have to wait at least an extra week before they will know who they face in the last eight of their respective SFC battles.