Farcical scenes as hurling final is abandoned

There were farcial scenes at Trim today when only one team showed up for the u-21 HC final.

Blackhall Gaels/Drumree and Kiltale were due to take on each other to decide the destination of the title. 

However only the Blackhall Gaels/Drumree players lined out for the game. They took up their usual positions but there was no opposition as Kiltale refused to field a team. 

Kiltale took the decision not to field because two of their players - Eamonn Ryan and Kevin Ryan - are also members of the Summerhill panel for the Leinster Club SFC semi-final against St Vincent's at Parnells Park tomorrow.

Kiltale had sought to get the game postponed however the Meath CCC confirmed in midweek that the final should go ahead.

Blackhall Gaels/Drumree duly showed up as did supporters, the referee Gerry O'Brien and his four umpires.

At the appointed time of 2.0 the match official threw in the ball. Blackhall Gaels/Drumee worked the sliotar downfield with their captain Stephen Morris firing over the bar.

With no-one to puck the ball out the referee brought a halt to proceedings.

No trophy was presented with the issue now due to go back to CCC who will make a decision on whether the final will be re-fixed or not.

'This is horrible, I'm disgusted,' commented Ronan Curley a member of the Blackhall Gaels/Drumree management set up. 'It feels like we have won nothing.'

Jimmy Geoghegan.