Cleary Celtic may have to bide their time to get to Windsor Park with an appeal against Enniskillen in the works

Neil Barr and Jack O'Doherty celebrate Barr's decisive second half goal against Lincoln Courts during Cleary Celtic's 2-0 Junior Cup semi-final victory at Stangmore Park.

The final was due to be played at Windsor Park on May 6 but it may be pushed back depending on the outcome of an IFA Disciplinary Committee hearing on Wednesday April 24, based on an appeal made by Tummery Athletic who lost 3-1 to Rangers in their semi-final.

It was reported by Belfast Live, that Enniskillen striker Jordan McClure was suspended after receiving a red card days before their semi-final in a league fixture. McClure did not play in the game against Tummery but was present at the ground – which Rangers do not dispute.

After they were defeated Tummery Athletic lodged the appeal citing Rule 15:9 of the Irish Football Association’s Disciplinary Code which defines a ‘standard suspension’ as: “A ban on taking part in a match with a player or official not permitted to enter the dressing room area, the player’s tunnel, the technical area, the substitute’s bench, the area immediately surrounding the field of play or the playing surface at any match played under the jurisdiction of the Association during the period stipulated in Article 15.9.1.”

Cleary Celtic striker Declan Monaghan takes on Lincon Court's defender Scott Adair at Dungannon.

Article 22 of the IFA Disciplinary Code states: “If any player participates in a match whilst being suspended or if any player breaches the terms of his suspension his club will be sanctioned with a minimum fine of £600 (imposed on Senior teams), £450 (imposed on Intermediate teams) and £350 (imposed on Junior teams). Additionally, the Club will forfeit the match by the score 3-0.”

However, when the appeal was brought to the IFA Junior Cup Committee they ruled that because that law is not listed under their Junior Cup competition rules Tummery’s appeal was dismissed. It was decided though that Rangers may have a ‘case to answer’ under the IFA’s overall disciplinary code and they were issued with a ‘note of complaint’.

The hearing will be held by the Disciplinary Committee on Wednesday, where they will rule on the matter and decide on a sanction, if any. Should they choose to do so when a decision is made, either side can take the case to the IFA appeals committee and if either side wish to take the matter even further, the next step is to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for sport.

In 2019 Bessbrook United were denied the opportunity to play Tummery Athletic in the Junior Cup final when they were deemed by the IFA to have played an ineligible player in their semi-final as Conor Sloan had unwittingly not been registered on the Comet system. The following year Enniskillen beat the Brook in the semi-final making that Rangers' third Junior Cup title in a row and their fourth in total.

Cleary beat Lincoln Courts 2-0 in Stangmore Park last month to reach the final for the first time in the club's history but depending on what happens on Wednesday the Carnbane side might have to wait longer than they had hoped to get to Windsor Park.