Orla Cronin is free to play in this Sunday’s All-Ireland camogie final in nothing short of farcical circumstances.
A last minute and absolutely mind-boggling ‘stay of suspension’ means that, having failed in her appeal to the camogie association during the week, Cronin, who was red carded for striking Kilkenny’s Grace Walsh in the semi-final, will now get her way because the DRA, basically, did not have enough time to make a decision.
That is no mis-print.
‘The DRA has made no finding on the substantive appeal but has granted Orla interim relief to participate in the All Ireland Final today, Sunday 12th September,’ was the official line of communication. At this level of competition, that for an explanation is beyond belief.
In effect, the ‘interim relief’ granted to Cronin means that, hypothetically, she could have committed the most blatant red card offence of all-time in the semi-final but because the appeals process was taken to its last avenue, she would have been set free to play anyway. When you consider that the semi-final was two weeks ago, when you consider that it was a clear red card, when you consider that the verdict was issued less than 24 hours before the game, this whole situation is just ridiculous.
“To miss an All-Ireland final for that is harsh.”
Aoife Sheehan says Orla Cronin’s sending off was a huge talking point from Cork’s thrilling win over Kilkenny. #RTEGAA #TheSundayGame pic.twitter.com/Ft5t3YTD09
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) August 29, 2021
‘An appeal was lodged with the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) by Cork player Orla Cronin against the decisions of the Camogie Association’s disciplinary process, following a red card in the All Ireland semi-final.
An emergency DRA interim hearing took place on Saturday evening (11th September).
The DRA has made no finding on the substantive appeal but has granted Orla interim relief to participate in the All Ireland Final today, Sunday 12th September.’
Cronin will now probably miss the first three games of next year’s national league in a case of the time most definitely being lighter than the crime. Two wrongs don’t make a right but the fact that Galway’s Emma Helebert should also be suspended for this final will give Cork a degree of justification but for the Camogie association, there could be no justification whatsoever.
