*Sporting Ennistymon players vent their frustration during the dramatic clash with Avenue Utd. Photograph: Natasha Barton / CDSL
ONE OF THE biggest sporting controversies in the county is still clouded in uncertainty with Sporting Ennistymon’s attempts to claim back points deducted from them by the Clare District and Soccer League (CDSL) and their Premier Division status ongoing.
Officials in both Sporting Ennistymon and the CDSL were without an update on the North Clare club’s appeal before the Munster Football Association following their relegation from the Premier Division.
Sporting were initially deducted five points for fielding a player without completing an international transfer certificate (ITC). They had drawn with Avenue Utd but the Ennis club benefitted with two extra points following the CDSL ruling, this in turn ensured they needed only a draw to beat Newmarket Celtic in the league showdown and their 1-1 result saw David Russell’s side complete a double.
This deduction put Sporting in a relegation playoff against Kilrush Rangers which was to take place at the beginning of June but the Ennistymon club claimed that the CDSL rescheduled the fixture and its clash with the Munster senior hurling final left them without several players.
A meeting of the CDSL the following Tuesday (June 7th) decided that Kilrush Rangers secured promotion to the Premier Division and Sporting would be relegated from the top flight.
Subsequent to this, Sporting have been vocal in their criticism arguing that a lack of information and clarity was provided by the FAI surrounding the rules with regards to registering a Ukrainian refugee.
An outcome into their appeal to Munster has not been forthcoming as of yet. The fact that the CDSL season has concluded has drained some hope from members of their club that the decision will be overturned. Neutrals have pointed to the initial decision to deduct points for the fielding of the player as an obvious weakness to the appeal.
This is expected to be one of the big items discussed at the AGM of the CDSL which is scheduled to take place on July 14th. It is anticipated that senior officials on the CDSL committee will be pressed by clubs regarding their handling of certain matters during the season.
