FOOTBALL: Larne concede defeat in Irish Cup dispute
LARNE Football Club have conceded defeat in their long-running Irish Cup saga with Newry City.
Club chairman Archie Smyth last night admitted the Inver Park club will not be lodging another appeal after the IFA this week reaffirmed its decision to allow Newry to progress in the competition.
It brings to an end a farcical saga dating back to January 16 when the two clubs were involved in a controversial fifth-round clash at the Showgrounds.
That game was abandoned after 82 minutes - with Newry leading 2-1 - after violent skirmishes between both sets of players broke out.
The two clubs were fined, with the IFA subsequently ruling that the scoreline should stand - a decision Larne appealed.
But after the Association stood by that ruling this week, Larne chief Smyth admits "enough is enough".
He added: "This is the end of it. We can't go on like this.
"I think we have been dragged through the gutter enough, and we can't keep paying out 100 for every appeal we lodge. We feel we have grounds for an appeal, but the IFA have made their decision.
"I am very disappointed, and I feel we have been put under pressure to step aside. But we can't let the competition's reputation suffer any longer."
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Tuesday 14 February 2012
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