It was always going to end this way.
In so much as it has not ended. The Christy Ring Cup that Meath celebrated lustily has not been won. It must be replayed, it was decided on Tuesday afternoon.
The replay will take place in Newry at 7pm on June 11th.
The GAA had already ruled out promoting both Antrim and Meath to the 2017 Leinster SHC round robin after referee John O’Brien acknowledged he mistakenly recorded the drawn game as a one-point Meath win on Saturday.
The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) met on Tuesday after GAA president Aogan Ó Fearghail had already ruled out sending both finalists into the Leinster SHC.
“No, that’s not an option,” said the Cavan man. “That sounds nice at times and it’s lovely to be nice to everyone and we would like to do that and I’m sure that’s what people’s instant reaction was but we have to be fair and we also have to be honest. They are the two things – being fair and being honest.
“The CCC will consider the referee’s report. If there’s a winner, there’s a winner, and that will also be a consideration. But if the referee did make a genuine human error and admits that then I’ve no doubt the CCC will act fairly and if it ended in a draw there’s only one action they can take.
“If it ended in a draw, and, again, I’m using the word ‘if’, then you have to have a winner. You can’t have two winners.”
Naturally people reacted with a mixture of hilarity, derision and anger. Always with the anger.
@officialgaa how do I apply for Christy Ring final refund seen as I paid for a match that's now null and void
— David Carroll (@DaithiMeath) June 7, 2016
Christy Ring to be replayed 😂😂😂
— Adam🇪🇺🇵🇸🇮🇪 (@adam08cullen) June 7, 2016
A replay in the Christy ring cup has been confirmed 🙈 #MeathAntrim #BringYourOwnScoreboard
— Bugsy Bradshaw 🍀 (@BugsyBradshaw1) June 7, 2016
Glad to see the right decision from the CCCC in replaying the Christy Ring Final – anything else would have been a farce. #GAA @AontroimGAA
— Ciarán Ó Maolchallann (@EvenTheOlives) June 7, 2016
