Carlow IT fail in Sigerson Cup appeal bid
It was not a good Friday for Carlow IT's Sigerson Cup panel as their last hopes of remaining in the top level Higher Education competition were ended when they lost their appeal over a Garda player's eligibility.
The GAA's Disputes Resolution Authority ruled that Carlow IT's appeal over the eligibility of Garda player Graham Dillon had failed.
Carlow's appeal took two weeks to be heard by the DRA, after it was lodged on March 7, the original scheduled date for the Sigerson Cup semi-final between Garda College and GMIT.
At Friday's meeting the DRA ruled against the decision of the GAA's Higher Education Council (Comhairle Ardoideachais), that Dillon was ineligible to play for Garda College, and stated that his ban should be quashed because of a 'procedural irregularity'.
Following the ruling, it is expected that the GAA's HEC will now hold an emergency meeting early next week to determine dates for the remaining games in the 2008 Sigerson Cup.
UUJ have already qualified for the decider having beaten DIT in the other semi-final.
However, Cork IT may yet lodge an objection. Garda College beat them in the quarter-final while fielding Dillon, Cork's Michael Cussen and Aidan O'Mahony of Kerry.
CIT's objection was put on hold pending the result of Carlow IT's submission to the DRA.
Now that the legality of Dillon's participation in the Sigerson Cup has been decided upon, it is expected that CIT may still lodge an appeal against Cussen and O'Mahony's participation, however this has yet to be confirmed.
