Moville launch objection following Donegal Junior A final

Donegal’s Junior A Football Championship, won by Na Rossa, is under a cloud following confirmation that Moville has objected to the outcome of last Saturday’s final.

The Inishowen club lost out to the Declan Bonner managed Na Rossa, 0-15 to 1-10, in a closely contested final at O’Donnell Park.

It has been confirmed by a spokesperson for Donegal GAA that Moville have lodged an objection. While no one from the club was available to comment on the matter it is understood Moville claimed that Na Rossa had 16 players on the field for a spell at a crucial juncture in the second half.

It is also understood that after initially viewing an official video of the game Moville sought clarification from the Donegal CCC as to how it happened.

But when the CCC refused to clarify the matter the club took the decision to lodge the objection. Na Rossa came from behind with three injury-time points to win. Na Rossa have opted not to comment.

It is expected the objection will be held in the coming days. To have 16 players on the field is a breach of Rule 6.44 and the penalties include either the awarding of the game to the opposing team, or for the game to be replayed, or a fine.

The Moville objection is similar to Derry champions Watty Grahams’ objection to last January's All-Ireland Club SFC meeting of Glenn and Kilmacud Crokes, the Dublin champions.

Kilmacud won the game 1-11 to 1-9 but it transpired afterwards they had 16 players on the field for the closing minutes of the game.

Watty Grahams objected and Croke Park ordered the game be replayed. Kilmacud lodged a counter-objection before the Derry and Ulster champions eventually withdrew from the process.