Na Fianna fall for getting figures wrong

Na Fianna, the reigning Dublin football champions, have been disqualified from this year's county championship for their illegal use of substitutes in last Saturday's quarter-final win over Raheny. The match has been awarded to Raheny.

The Games Administration Committee (GAC) of the Dublin County Board made the decision last night after they examined the referee's report, which confirmed the use of six substitutes - one more than the allowed five. The penalty for such an offence is automatic forfeiture of the game.

In a separate development last night it was confirmed that Kilmacud Crokes had lodged an objection against UCD's victory in the other quarter-final, also played on Saturday.

Kilmacud claim that the UCD centre forward John Divilly had not been officially registered with the club, and the GAC were last night considering that objection.

Na Fianna were due to meet UCD in the Dublin semi-final double bill this Saturday in Parnell Park but it looks likely that only one of those games - St Vincent's against Lucan Sarsfields - will go ahead as scheduled. Last night it was still unclear who would contest the other semi-final.

Under GAA rules Na Fianna can appeal the decision of the Dublin GAC to the Leinster Council but the club's intention on that matter will not be known until later today. Their only comment last night was that they were considering their options.

It appears unlikely, however, that the Leinster Council would overturn the decision since the GAA rules are clear on the matter of substitutions. However, as Dublin champions for the past three years it is known that Na Fianna are not willing to give up their title without exploring every possible option.

During the game Na Fianna used five regular substitutions, and also unwittingly introduced a sixth player - Gerry Gray - as a blood replacement for Stephen McGlinchey in the second half. GAA rules clearly state that a team is limited to a maximum of 20 players (including blood substitutes) in any game, and six names in addition to the starting 15 did appear in the report of St Jude's referee Gerry Grehan.

The club's error was all the more startling considering they had made a similar mistake just 11 months ago in the Leinster club championship match against Sarsfields of Kildare. On that occasion Sarsfields agreed to a replay (partly because they'd been well beaten the first time), with Na Fianna also winning the replay.

Last Sunday Na Fianna only narrowly emerged as winners, with former Dublin captain Dessie Farrell scoring two late goals. Similarly, UCD produced a narrow victory over Kilmacud thanks to late goals from Brian McDonald and Joe Fallon.

A decision on the Kilmacud objection may be known later today. The final must be decided on Sunday week if the champions are to meet their date in the Leinster club championship.