Ringmahon opt out of FAI Cup tie
A Cork football club have defended themselves after they controversially decided to withdraw from the second round of the Club Orange Men's FAI Cup.
This week Ringmahon Rangers opted to withdraw from the competition, partly due to a possible clash with the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final - should Cork make it.
League of Ireland Premier Division outfit Bohemian were due to play the former club of Caoimhín Kelleher on 19 July at 2pm.
Bohemians have now received a walkover, the first to happen in the competition since 2012.
Ringmahon said they feel we feel they have been “treated unfairly and placed in an impossible position” by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI). The FAI may now penalise the Munster Senior League side.
The FAI scheduled the date and Ringmahon Rangers were not allowed to use their home ground for the tie. They first tried to secure Turner’s Cross, but this was not available so they sought to stage the game in St Colman’s Park in Cobh.
There was little flexibility on changing the game to a different date with Bohemians scheduled to be in European action around the date of the FAI Cup game.
In a statement the club said: “Following discussions with the Munster Football Association, we were informed that Turner's Cross would not be available that weekend.
“We then explored the possibility of staging the game in Cobh, with concerns over reduced attendance due to a potential clash with a Cork GAA fixture and the FIFA World Cup final later that day, created significant difficulties.”
The club’s statement continued: “In an effort to find a workable solution, we proposed several alternative dates to the FAI, including Friday, Saturday, and Monday of the same weekend.
“We also offered to play the fixture the previous week or at any suitable date before the next round of the competition.”
The statement added: “As a club, we feel we were treated unfairly and placed in an impossible position. Given the logistical challenges, player availability issues, logistical issues with staging the match approximately 30 minutes from our home venue on an already congested sporting weekend, we felt we had no viable option but to withdraw from the competition.”
The All-Ireland Final is set to take place at 3.30pm on 19 July, with Cork facing Galway this weekend in a semi-final clash.
The World Cup final is due to take place at 8pm on the same day.
The club's statement also pointed out that “other team games v League of Ireland opposition have been allowed to be played at our home ground”.
It is believed some players could be missing for the FAI Cup tie, should Cork make the All-Ireland hurling final. Ringmahon secured a place in the second round by beating Liffey Wanderers on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Dublin.