F&W FA to hear protest against Tummery on Monday evening

TUMMERY Athletic are at risk of being thrown out of the Mulhern Cup for playing too many substitutes.

Athletic used four substitutes instead of the regulation three in Saturday’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Derrychara United.

Rule 10 of the Fermanagh and Western FA’s Mulhern Cup rules states, “A Team may at its discretion use three Substitute Players at any time in any match except to replace a Player who has been dismissed from the match by the Referee. Teams may nominate up to a maximum of five Substitute Players prior to the commencement of any match.”

According to the IFA’s Comet system, Tummery brought on three substitutes Gary Lynch, James Garrity and Martin Hughes on 60 minutes before introducing a fourth Aaron McNulty in extra-time (90+17).

The Fermanagh and Western has confirmed that Derrychara has lodged a protest and that will be heard on Monday (February 21) evening.

Mulhern Cup rules differ from those for the fonaCAB Irish Junior Cup which is run by the Irish Football Association and allows for a fourth substitute in extra-time.

Junior Cup Rule 16 states, “A Club may at its discretion, use three substitute players at any time in any tie, except to replace players who have been expelled by the referee. The substitutions can only be made when play is stopped for any reason and the referee has given permission. Only three substitutions by each side will be permitted in any tie and a maximum of five substitute players may be nominated by each side prior to the commencement of the tie. A fourth substitute may take part exclusively during extra time in all rounds of the competition.”

During the tie itself match official Martin Crawford had issued a number of yellow cards as well as showing red to Derrychara player Barry McCann and their coach Johnny Noble.

Tummery are bidding for a third consecutive Mulhern Cup triumph and sixth overall.