By Frank Craig

The delayed Donegal SFC final fallout looks set to continue with the news that Naomh Conaill will take their case to Ulster GAA.

Kilcar’s successful appeal to have the contentious fixture replayed was upheld by the Donegal Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) last Sunday evening.

John McNulty’s men had lost out to the Glenties outfit back on Saturday, August 14 with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win seemingly securing the Dr Maguire once again for Naomh Conaill.

However, Kilcar’s subsequent claim that the Davy Brennan Park side had used four subs in extra-time, instead of the permitted three, was found to be correct at the weekend and a replay has now been ordered.

The CCC confirmed on Monday that fixture has now been marked in for next Wednesday, September 8, at 7.45pm in Ballybofey. TG4 also intend to screen the game live.

However, Naomh Conaill had until midnight last night (Wednesday) to appeal the decision to Ulster. And last night it was understood that paperwork was already making its way towards the provincial body.

It’s believed that Ulster GAA intend to hear Naomh Conaill’s case as early as this coming Monday, September 6, which would still allow time for the re-fixed game, just two days later, to go ahead if their protests fall on deaf ears.

The 2021 Donegal SFC is scheduled to throw-in the weekend of Friday, September 10. However, both Naomh Conaill and Kilcar have been spared opening round fixtures there and won’t be in action until the following weekend.

But if Martin Regan’s men don’t get a satisfactory response from Ulster they might well decide to pursue the matter further at Croke Park level. Therefore, the likelihood of getting the issue sorted on the field of play, next Wednesday evening, looks increasingly unlikely at this point.