The University of Limerick’s Ashbourne Cup team is still in shock after their team missed out on the semi-finals due to a clerical error
By James Hanly
The leading college camogie competition, the Ashbourne Cup reached its conclusion this weekend as University College Cork (UCC) took on Technological University Dublin (TUD). The game had a nail-biting finish as TUD narrowly won 1-11 to 0-13 after extra time.
Free taker Roisin McCormack was the hero on the day slotting over two vital points to win the competition for the Dublin side.
Although the climax to the competition was an entertaining affair, the competition is still marred by the shocking elimination of the UL team in the days leading up to the finals weekend.
Ruarí Walsh’s team found out by an alleged email that they would no longer compete in the competition after receiving an email from the College Camogie Authority (CCAO).
In a statement, the team and management have said:
“We were assured by the CCAO (Friday) evening that we could make a further attempt at getting our case heard but after this appeal was ‘noted’ and rejected without ruling, the UL Senior Camogie team are currently left without no explanation or no chance of representation.”
The situation stems from the UL Wolves team beating Maynooth by a staggering 34 points, meaning they finished on the same points score at Dublin City University (DCU) and TUD. The CCAO’s official tables had previously stated that this was the score that UL needed to progress from the group.
A complaint was made about a scoreline submitted by a referee in a previous match and after the scores were amended, DCU progressed instead.
UL wished to make an appeal through the Dispute Resolution Authority, but it was not feasible due to the semi-final taking place so soon after the alleged email.
DCU were beaten in the semi-final by UCC with a scoreline of 2-19 to 3-14.
The UL squad stood in solidarity as they watched the match they were meant to be playing on Sunday afternoon.
The UL Ashbourne team and management do not wish to comment further but continue to stand by their statement.
“As we have not been afforded the opportunity to ask vital questions privately we are going to ask them publicly and request that these questions are answered in a satisfactory manner.
“Otherwise we will be left with no choice but to publicly release evidence showing an email exchange between the CCAO and another college also involved in this debacle that will bring the current farcical situation into further disrepute.”
