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Bonner, left, was shown a black card in the final minutes of Glenswilly's semi-final win. Presseye/Russell Pritchard/INPHO

Tomorrow's Donegal final will go ahead as Naomh Conaill appeal rejected

Glenswilly and St Eunan’s will now battle it out for the title tomorrow.

THE ASTERIX THAT was beside the Donegal senior football final between Glenswilly and St Eunan’s tomorrow can be removed after Naomh Conaill today learned their appeal to the Ulster Hearings Committee had fallen.

The Glenties club brought their case to provincial level on Friday night having failed on Wednesday night with an ‘objection into the awarding of the game’ to the Donegal Competitions Controls’ Committee over their 0-10 to 0-8 semi-final defeat by Glenswilly on Sunday last in Letterkenny.

The crux of the Naomh Conaill objection centred on the fact Glenswilly were allowed to introduce substitute Oisin Crawford two minutes from time to replace the black-carded Ciaran Bonner, despite the fact he had also been yellow-carded in the first half.

Crawford then kicked an injury time point to edge his side in front before Eamonn Ward sealed the two-point win for Glenswilly.

Match referee Jimmy White’s match report stated that he had booked and then black-carded Glenswilly midfielder Bonner – a combination of events that lead to an automatic red card under new rules introduced this year.

However, in a peculiar twist, on Friday night Glenswilly successfully appealed Bonner’s black card to the Donegal Hearings Committee. Therefore, Bonner’s black card being rescinded meant Naomh Conaill’s appeal fell.

Naomh Conaill officials today indicated today they plan to release a statement on the matter.

Glenswilly failed in their appeal to quash Caolan Kelly’s red card, which he picked up for a late challenge on Stephen Molloy of Naomh Conaill last week, and the club captain will miss the final through suspension.

Tomorrow’s final in Ballybofey at 4pm sees Glenswilly, last year’s Donegal champions and Ulster finalists with All-Stars Michael Murphy and Neil Gallagher on board, face neighbours St Eunan’s from Letterkenny, who are armed with Rory Kavanagh and Eamonn Doherty.

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