St Brigid's GAA club confirmed yesterday they would not be taking the Mark Vaughan eligibility case to the High Court because of the costs they would incur if unsuccessful. Also, they did not want a scenario whereby Dublin would not have a team in the Leinster club championship.
Kilmacud Crokes will now play Parnells on Thursday evening at Parnell Park in the second round of the championship, with the winners facing Thomas Davis the following week.
St Brigid's, however, further criticised the disputes resolution authority and GAA for their handling of the matter.
"While we accept the DRA's ruling that they do not have the authority to overturn the DRA's original decision, we must point out that serious question marks remain over that first decision," read a club statement.
"We are not alone in this belief, a fact that is evidenced by the decision of Leinster council and the Central Appeals Committee and their continued support of the position taken by St Brigid's at the latest hearing."
They accused the association of favouritism in facilitating Crokes with a hastily arranged DRA meeting on May 20th "before that body was ratified by central council (in breach of DRA code 1.3) when that club had five months from the time of the player's suspension to get a ruling? Could other clubs expect such favour?"
At that hearing they criticised Central Council for presenting their case so poorly by failing to mention relevant rulings from congress in 1977 and 1996, which would have deemed Vaughan ineligible to play in the Dublin club championship.
Also, the involvement of GAA president Seán Kelly in the matter was questioned by the club after he made comments supporting the original decision of the DRA.
"Is he (Kelly) so keen to see the DRA survive that he is prepared to sacrifice some of its own governing rules and some of the units of the association (club & committee) for it?" the statement said.
Meanwhile, Dublin midfielder Darren Homan has retired from football at all levels on medical advice over a back injury.
