Dublin and Clare withdraw from controversial coin toss and accuse Camogie Association of 'betrayal'
Both Dublin and Clare have decided to withdraw from this morning's controversial coin toss and demanded more respect from the Camogie Association.
Despite appeals from both camps, the coin toss draw to determine the final qualifier from Group 2 of the Liberty Insurance Senior Camogie Championship was planned to proceed at 9.30 this morning as both sides finished level on points in the group stages.
The procedure was branded as “ludicrous” by Dublin manager Shane O’Brien.
"The Executive of the Dublin County Board held a meeting on Tuesday 28 July and took the decision to withdraw it’s name from the drawing of lots (Coin Toss) to decide which team Dublin/Clare should progress to the quarter final stages of this year's Senior All-Ireland Championship.," a Dublin statement read.
The Banner have also decided to follow suit and accused the Association of showing "contempt and disdain" by sticking to their guns with the coin toss.
Both teams had offered to play the match to determine a winner.
"The Camogie Association has demonstrated their utter contempt and disdain for every player and member of the Association. How can a governing sporting body justify by any logic the Drawing of Lots(coin toss) to determine progression in Championship?" the strongly worded statement read.
"Clare Camogie demands more respect for its players and administrators than what is being levelled at them by the Camogie Association officials."
The County Board says that the decision to withdraw was not taken lightly and has demanded more respect for its players and administrators.
"The upset and mental anguish that has been forced upon players by the Association, will have deep and long lasting repercussions. Players are inconsolable and feel betrayed.
"For an Association to deprive a team the opportunity to advance on merit is incomprehensible and indefensible. How can our most valuable asset, our players, be degraded and mis-treated?"
"This is a regressive step for the Association and will be of detriment, not only to Clare and Dublin but to Camogie on whole. The Association have passed up an opportunity to address this fiasco with the appeals of both Clare and Dublin.
"Thus, in choosing not to do so have left it to Clare and Dublin to up-hold the sporting integrity of the Association," the statement concludes.