Galway had beaten Cavan 3-11 to 1-12, after extra time, in the semi-final on Saturday June 13.

However, at an emergency hearing last week, the LGFA found the Galway County Board had breached the rules by playing an unregistered player.

As a result Central Council ruled that the game was a forfeit and Galway were fined, per the organisation rules.

A report in the Connacht Tribune yesterday suggested that the player’s registration was held up due to a problem with payment through Paypal. The report said that the Galway player involved had been played “in good faith”, with the belief that she was properly registered.

One Galway parent told the newspaper that his daughter had cried herself to sleep after hearing of the disqualification.

“Why dad, why? We did nothing wrong; it’s not fair, it’s just not fair,” he quoted her as saying.

However, the LGFA have released a statement on the matter this afternoon, and said Galway had been aware of the issue of registration in advance.

The statement said: “In this case the Galway County Board had been informed of the situation regarding the unregistered player on June 11th, 2 days prior to the semi final and were advised to register her.

“In order for a player to play ladies gaelic football in an official competition, she must be a registered member of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association. It is clear from all the information forwarded that the player in question was not registered for the All Ireland semi final game and Galway County Board had been notified of this situation on Thursday 11th June 2015.”

The LGFA are adamant that the decision was the correct one, and therefore Cavan will go through to the All-Ireland final.

Their statement finished: “In accordance with the associations rules, as implemented by Central Council, Galway will forfeit the match”.

Cavan will now face Cork in the U14 A All-Ireland final in Banagher, Co. Offaly on July 4 at 1pm.