UL Ashbourne Cup farce rumbles on as another appeal attempt is rejected

UL'S HOPES of being reinstated back into the Ashbourne Cup hit another blow last night after they were refused another attempt to plead their case to the Higher Education camogie authorities.

The college's Ashbourne Cup panel and management have released another statement this morning highlighting their 'dismay' at the way they been treated during this whole process.

UL had initially been assured of their place in the this weekend's semi-finals after a 34-point win over Maynooth but issues emerged earlier this week that threatened their further participation in the competition.

In the statement, UL's Ashbourne Cup team and management reveal that they have email evidence of an exchange between camogie college authorities and another college involved in the debacle.

The statement this morning reads as follows:

"During the night the UL Senior Camogie panel were dismayed to hear of the refusal of another attempt to get a hearing with the CCAO (College Camogie Authority) or the THDC (Transfer, Hearings and Disciplinary Committee) to: (a) get a proper explanation as to how UL have ended up eliminated from the competition and (b) to present overwhelming evidence obtained in support for position as qualifying for the semi finals.

"The Dispute Resolution Authority (DRA) route of appeal was not feasible due to the time constraints involved with the throw-in time of our semi final this evening at 16:00.

"We were assured by the CCAO yesterday evening that we could make a further attempt at getting our case heard but after this appeal was 'noted' and rejected without ruling, the UL Senior Camogie team are currently left without no explanation or no chance of representation.

"As we have not been afforded the opportunity to ask vital questions privately we are going to ask them publicly and request that these questions are answered in a satisfactory manner.

"Otherwise we will be left with no choice but to publicly release evidence showing an email exchange between the CCAO and another college also involved in this debacle that will bring the current farcical situation into further disrepute.

"Our only request is all along has been to postpone today's semi finals in order to receive a fair hearing where we could produce our case in private with the governing bodies."

The Ashbourne Cup semi-finals are due to take place at 2pm and 4pm today in UCD.