Donegal GAA club Naomh Colmcille has accepted the punishment handed down by Doengal GAA after it was sanctioned by the County Board for hosting an unauthorised fundraising soccer tournament at its grounds in Newtowncunningham,
The club successfully appealed against the initial two-month suspension for hosting a soccer match — ‘an unaunthorised tournament’ organised by an external committee — in aid of terminally-ill member Paul Dillon at Pairc Colmcille in February.
Dillon, a former player and coach at the club, has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.
While the ban was uplifted, the Hearings Committee found that the club remained in breach of two rules.
Naomh Colmcille now lose home advantage for all adult games for 12 weeks and a €500 has been imposed. The club has accepted those punishments, opting against further appeals and via a statement on the club’s Facebook page on We they “consider this matter to be closed”.
Naomh Colmcille statement:
“The committee of CLG Naomh Colmcille wishes to indicate that it accepts both the findings of the Hearing Committee and the sanctions imposed against the club. The committee would like to express its regret that it was deemed necessary for the club to be charged with a breach of the said rules as it was never the intention to contravene any rules of the Association. In the interests of the club and the Dillon family we now wish to move forward and we consider this matter to be closed. We therefore will not be making any further comment.”
