CCC investigate subs blunder controversy, St Eunan's to be presented with findings

The Donegal Competition Controls Committee (CCC) has conducted its own investigation into the contentious ending to Termon’s SFC preliminary round quarter-final win over St Eunan’s. 

The process is believed to now be nearing an end and it’s understood that the Letterkenny club will be furnished with the CCC’s findings in the coming days. 

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That clash finished with the Burn Road side winning out 1-16 to 0-18 after extra-time and dumping the reigning champions out of this season’s Dr Maguire running.  

However, there was a measure of real controversy attached to the victory as Termon had 16 players on the pitch at the time substitute Enda McCormick snatched the winning score. 

McCormick fisted over the crossbar instantly with his first possession after being introduced, although the man he was to replace, John James Sweeney, was still in the St Eunan’s arc as McCormick picked up possession before turning and scoring. 

The fact quickly came to light as Streamsport.ie footage soon circulated online that same evening. 

That crucial intervention put Termon two in front before Shane O'Donnell of St Eunan's pulled one back, with what proved to be the final score of the match. 

In the days that followed, St Eunan’s strongly considered appealing the result but the club executive eventually decided against that course of action. 

Absolving Termon of any blame, a club statement read: “St Eunan’s players consulted the match referee at the time and asked him to consult with the linesmen and fourth official, which he declined to do.

"On this basis, had an appeal been lodged, we are confident that a replay would likely have been granted. 

“However, St Eunan’s is equally mindful of the principles of sporting integrity and the fact that the incident was not the result of any deliberate act on Termon’s behalf. Our disappointment lies with how the situation was handled by the match officials.

"The game should not have been allowed to restart until the Termon player being substituted had fully exited the field of play. 

“It was not Termon’s fault, nor was it ours, and we strongly believe that standards of communication and officiating must improve to prevent such incidents in future”.

However, DonegalLive has now learned that the Donegal CCC did, in fact, receive a subsequent request from the Letterkenny club asking them to review the officiating of the game and how that crucial oversight occurred. 

The CCC duly obliged and will now pass their findings onto the O’Donnell Park hierarchy.