Camogie in crisis over 'coin toss'

The coin toss is part and parcel of every sport and involved in every game. Who will play with the wind? Which goal are you playing into? Uncontroversial issues generally resolved by the question 'heads or tails?'. The fact that such a random process was being applied to resolve who will meet Wexford in the All Ireland camogie quarter finals prompted a reaction the sport's governing body couldn't have predicted. Otherwise they would have listened to appeals for a match to decide who should advance after Dublin and Clare finished level on points in their season to date. However the top brass stuck to their guns and the main issue now will be building bridges from this.

Now both the Dublin and Clare county boards have taken the decision to withdraw from the process entirely.

Appeals by both counties against the decision to draw lots to determine who would progress to the last 8 were dismissed last night and neither county was invited to the coin toss today but were due to learn the outcome via a YouTube video.

In its hard hitting statement the Clare county board says 'the Camogie Association has demonstrated their utter contempt and disdain for every player and member of the Association.' 

Today FM Sport awaits a comment from the Camogie Association HQ but in the meantime here are the main points from the Clare Camogie Board:

•  How can a governing sporting body justify by any logic the Drawing of Lots(coin toss) to determine progression in Championship?

• Clare Camogie demands more respect for its players and administrators than what is being levelled at them by the Camogie Association officials.

• Fixtures and Structures are devised by Committee, ratified and implemented by Ard Chomhairle - Counties do not vote on these. There is no avenue to question this decision making as Ard Chomhairle hold the final say on all matters.

• The decision by Ard Chomhairle not to adjudicate on the merit of Appeals lodged, shows the contempt with which the lower units of the Association are held.

• The upset and mental anguish that has been forced upon players by the Association, will have deep and long lasting repercussions. Players are inconsolable and feel betrayed.

• For an Association to deprive a team the opportunity to advance on merit is incomprehensible and indefensible. How can our most valuable asset, our players, be degraded and mis-treated. This is a regressive step for the Association and will be of detriment, not only to Clare and Dublin but to Camogie on whole. The Association have passed up an opportunity to address this fiasco with the appeals of both Clare and Dublin. Thus, in choosing not to do so have left it to Clare and Dublin to up-hold the sporting integrity of the Association.

Watch this space.