Extreme disappointment and ferocious determination may not be regular bedfellows, but both are certainly present in Heffernan Park today.
All involved with Ballina Rugby Football Club are extremely disappointed to have been handed severe sanctions from the IRFU for what has been deemed to be a breach of IRFU Regulations.
Regulation 6 states that no amateur player playing in the Connacht or All Ireland Leagues can receive payment or benefits, and Ballina Rugby Football Club are, and always have been, completely supportive of this.
Unfortunately, a post on social media of Kieran Lindsay receiving the keys for use of a car on behalf of Ballina RFC from Connolly Motors, has been perceived as a personal benefit. In our view this perception is incorrect as the car was intended for use by Ballina RFC to develop the game in North Mayo schools.
Ballina RFC have made strong representations to IRFU stating our case however we have not received a favourable reception. Sanctions applied will include a €2000 fine for the club and deduction of two league points from our AIL team.
Both sanctions are severe. We all know the challenges of fundraising for a rural club in Connacht and we’re also extremely aware of the value of two league points at this stage of our season.
Club Chairman, Alan Rowe, says that the everyone at Ballina RFC are very disappointed with the situation. “We’re an extremely progressive club, promoting and developing the game at all levels on and off the pitch, so to be hit with these sanctions is extremely disappointing.
“We are blessed to have outstanding support from local businesses and the general public throughout our catchment area and we know this news will cause a lot of hurt, but we’re very determined not let it impact negatively on the club or on our senior team.
“We’ve had to overcome challenges throughout our history and I’m confident we’ll overcome this one too. Our senior team have been outstanding representatives for Ballina RFC in recent seasons and the two-point deduction will hit them hard, so it’s up to all of us and everyone in the community to get behind them and carry them through the rest of the season as they battle to stay in the division. We play Sligo next Saturday in Heffernan Park and now, more than ever, we need the place packed with our supporters,” he added.
The news comes the day after Heffernan Park was packed to the rafters when the club promoted a ‘20x20 Women in Sport’ event where our Ballina senior women took on Westport under floodlights on our new state-of-the-art pitch.