Michael Murphy has expressed concerns if the All-Ireland Club Football Final controversy is “brushed under the carpet”.
Derry club Glen have now launched an objection in the wake of Sunday’s game which saw winners Kilmacud defend their goal with 16 players in closing stages.
The Ulster champions lodged their objection after the GAA informed them it would not review the closing minutes of the Croke Park, a move which has prompted criticism of the association.
Speaking on The GAA Social, 2012 All-Ireland winning captain Murphy said “there has to be a replay” because Rule 6.44 was broken.
“The situation all parties are in is very, very tricky and unfortunate,” said Murphy, who retired from Donegal duty in November.
“There’s definitely a certain element of feeling sorry for all parties, but leaving that aside you have to take it as black and white as it is.
“The rulebook is there. If we start potentially flicking around and brushing something under the carpet where there was an indiscretion with the rule, where does that stop? What does that say to a new underage season that’s happening around the country with clubs next year.
“What does that say to colleges football that’s going on at the moment? What does it say to inter-county season that’s coming on next year?”
Following Glen’s decision to object on Tuesday night, the GAA’s Central Control Competitions Committee (CCCC) is understood to have forwarded the objection to Dublin side Kilmacud.
The Leinster champions have the right to counter object within a three-day period (up to Saturday morning in this case).
But if Kilmacud make clear that there will not be a counter objection, the matter will then go to appeal in front of the CCCC, who could either order a replay, fine Kilmacud or award the game to Glen.
“We need to nip it in the bud,” added Glenswilly clubman Murphy.
“It was a rule indiscretion. There has to be a replay around it. There then after what Glen do and what they decide to do is up to them.
“But a rule was broken. All the arguments like ‘well, that player didn’t do much’ or ‘the players, the two of them didn’t do much, they didn’t have a massive impact’.
“I get that, and you know what, maybe they didn’t. Maybe one of them on the line freed up someone else to attack the ball, but if you brush this one under the carpet, my fear for the whole organisation, all underage games and everything that’s happening around GAA for the coming year, where does this stop?
“A mistake was made. Mistakes happen. Everybody understands that. Step in, offer the replay. It’s up to Glen then as a club which is a massively difficult decision to make.”
