Former Donegal footballer Eamon McGee believes the All-Ireland club final replay between Glen and Kilmacud Crokes should go ahead but anticipates that the fixture will not in fact happen.
On Tuesday, the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) ordered a replay between the sides after a hearing into the debacle which was sparked during the original final when the Kilmacud defended the final play of the game with 16 active players on the pitch.
Speaking on RTÉ News on Tuesday night, former Mayo and Offaly manager John Maughan had opined that a replay "is not in any way justified" and that "the result should stand" as the 16th man was due to a "genuine mistake" on Kilmacud's part.
However, McGee, who won an inter-county All-Ireland with Donegal in 2012, has told RTÉ's Morning Ireland that a replay was a fair remedy but echoed Maughan's pessimism about the chances of it actually happening.
"I personally think the game should be played and both teams should just get on board the process now," he said.
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"I know Kilmacud are going to appeal but for me the issue is fairly black and white. There were 16 players so I don't see what way they would go with the appeal. So just play the game and see how things pan out.
"I don't think the game will be played at all. I don't know is the appetite there in Kilmacud to play the game.
"The GAA loves its technicalities so if Kilmacud go down the appeal route, there's bound to be some technicality they can get off on, start the appeal and delay.
"The longer it goes on, the less appetite both teams will have. But I personally don't see any game being played. Kilmacud, the rumours are going that they're just going to say to Glen, 'Just take the cup with you, we've won it on the field' so we'll see how it pans out."
McGee felt Glen were left in an unenviable position in the aftermath of the original game as they pondered whether to seek an objection to the outcome, having being told the CCCC would not investigate independently.
"It's too big a thing to have a 'what if' over the players' heads or management's head," he said.
"It might not have made any difference at all but there is always going to be a 'what if' if they hadn't gone down the appeal route and I just personally think they've gone the right route about it and they've been hung out to dry by the GAA also, that should be added into the equation too."
The All-Ireland winner added that the GAA "would be silly" if they do not subsequently tidy up the regulations around substitutions and the withdrawal of players from the field of play.
With uncertainty about whether a replay will in fact occur, McGee said he would train in anticipation of one regardless if he were in the Glen players' shoes.
"I would be training. I think the advice they're going to get is this (appeals process) is going to play out for another while but I would maybe rest for another week and just keep at gym for a wee while extra, better to be prepared. I don't think it's going to be called upon but you just never know."
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