Kilmacud Crokes today have been formally awarded the 2023 AIB All-Ireland Club SFC after weeks of intense speculation.
Crokes (Dublin) and Glen (Derry) played in the final of the All-Ireland Football Club Final last month.
But the game was left with a sour taste as it was found that Kilmacud finished the game with 16 players, one more than the standard 15.
Glen was beaten 1-11 to 1-9 but a video showed Kilmacud had 16 players in their massed defence at the finish as the Derry side chased a match-winning goal.
An official objection was sent by Glen to the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee [CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee)]
Soon after a replay had been ordered by GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee to play the game again.
Dublin , Ireland - 22 January 2023; Shane Cunningham of Kilmacud Crokes scores a point during the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Watty Graham's Glen of Derry and Kilmacud Crokes of Dublin at Croke Park in Dublin. (Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Glen then announced last Friday that they did not intend to play the final again as they did “not believe the conditions exist for a replay to be contested”.
Crokes went to the Central Appeals Committee to appeal against the replay ruling and today have been awarded the Andy Merigan Cup
A statement on the GAA's website read, "Representatives of Kilmacud Crokes and the C.C.C.C met today to consider the implications of the decision on Friday of Watty Graham’s Glen to withdraw from the process initiated around the 2023 AIB All-Ireland Club Football Final.
"The C.C.C.C, arising from an objection on behalf of Watty Graham’s Glen, had ordered a replay of the game on the basis that in excess of the number of players permitted were on the field for the last play of the game," said the GAA.
The statement also claimed that the reason Crokes were awarded the trophy was because the mistake was not done deliberately and that no fault was attached to the 16th player
The C.C.C.C Decision – communicated to the two Clubs on Tuesday of last week - had made it clear that this was not a deliberate action and that no fault was attributed to Kilmacud Crokes for the situation they found themselves in," added the statement.
"Upon a request from the C.C.C.C., Kilmacud Crokes, in the interests of fully resolving the matter, today agreed to withdraw their Appeal to the Central Appeals Committee.
"A subsequent meeting of the C.C.C.C has formally awarded the 2023 All Ireland Club Championship to Kilmacud Crokes."
The Dublin club also broke their silence around the matter and released their own statement via their own website.
The statement read, " We welcome todays statement by the GAA Kilmacud Crokes formally awarded 2023 AIB All-Ireland Club SFC (gaa.ie) which brings to an end what has been a very difficult two weeks for both Watty Graham’s GAC, Glen and our own Kilmacud Crokes.
"The teams, management and the family and friends of all GAA clubs know the sacrifice, physical endurance and mental strength that is required to reach an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final and we congratulate both clubs on their achievement.
"We would like to thank our players, the management team, volunteers and our wider membership community for their ongoing support and commitment. Our Club will continue to move forward focused on our passion to promote the enjoyment of Gaelic games within our community in an inclusive, diverse and welcoming environment for all ages and all levels."
At a meeting today the C.C.C.C formally awarded the 2023 AIB All Ireland Club Football Championship to @KCrokesGAAClub. #GAABelong
— The GAA (@officialgaa) February 9, 2023
See More: All-Ireland Club Final, Football, GAA, Glen, Kilmacud Crokes
