Portglenone have ended doubt about which team will face Kickhams Creggan in the Antrim Senior Football Championship final later this month.
Aghagallon had defeated Portglenone 1-19 to 1-18 after a double extra-time thriller on Sunday. After the game remained level following the additional 20 minutes of extra-time, another 10 minutes was played.
It later emerged that 10 minutes was in breach of the finish on the day protocols and that the game should have be decided by penalties when the sides were still level following the initial 20 minutes of extra-time.
In a statement, the Roger Casements Portglenone club said though they believe a breach of the rules did take place, and that an appeal would have been successful, they will not be pursuing the matter any further.
Wonderful Walsh! See a superb 1-6 by Stevie O'Neill's Player of the Match Eunan Walsh for @aghagallongaa in their historic Northern Switchgear Antrim SFC semi-final win. Live Stream by @PaircTV. Apologies for the poor audio quality. pic.twitter.com/mLtB9KT7XC
— Antrim GAA (@AontroimGAA) October 31, 2021
"Following our semi-final match against St Marys Aghagallon on Sunday 31st October, Roger Casements Portglenone sought clarification from Antrim CCC regarding the "finish on the day" protocol applied during this game," reads a statement from the club.
"The Committee of the Club met to discuss the response provided by Antrim CCC. This response, in our opinion, confirmed that the game was not completed in accordance with the ratified 2021 Championship regulations and also acknowledged that Antrim clubs had been "inadvertently issued the incorrect document". This had led to much confusion and uncertainty both during and after completion of the game for both players and match day officials. The club remains of the opinion that there was a serious breach of rule and an appeal to Ulster Council would have been successful.
"However the Club has decided not to pursue an appeal process and wish to make it clear that at no stage had an appeal been submitted, despite contradictory reports.
"Our Club prides itself on integrity, fair play and sportsmanship and we wish both Kickhams Creggan and St Marys Aghagallon the best of luck for the final."
Antrim chairman Ciarán McCavana thanked Portglenone for "taking such a dignified and honourable course of action".
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