Coleraine’s appeal against Cliftonville’s Irish Cup changes dismissed by Irish FA

Cliftonville star Chris Gallagher

Coleraine’s protest over their Irish Cup defeat to Cliftonville at the Showgrounds on Friday night has been dismissed by the Irish FA because it was not lodged in accordance with the rules.

The Belfast Telegraph can reveal that the Irish FA Challenge Cup Committee decided that Coleraine’s protest was not received in order with Challenge Cup rules and therefore Cliftonville had no case to answer.

The Bannsiders were criticised by supporters from across the Irish League after this newspaper disclosed on Tuesday that they had made a protest regarding the fifth round match, and now with news that the protest was not lodged correctly it is an embarrassing situation for the club.

The Belfast Telegraph revealed on Tuesday that the Bannsiders had made a complaint to the IFA relating to the late withdrawal of midfielder Chris Gallagher from Cliftonville’s starting line-up.

Gallagher pulled out of the game shortly before kick-off due to a groin strain and was replaced in the team by Ronan Doherty who was originally on the bench, with Reece Jordan taking his place in the list of substitutes.

The Reds won the fifth round tie 3-0 after extra-time thanks to a brilliant Ronan Hale hat-trick and were drawn at home to Loughgall in the last-16 in a competition they have not won since 1979.

On Tuesday, Coleraine chairman Colin McKendry told this newspaper: “We can confirm a protest has been made in relation to the late changes made prior to kick off on Friday night.”

It is worth noting that throughout the process the Reds were always confident that they had done nothing wrong. In the end there wasn't even the need for a case, which is why the IFA could deal with the issue so quickly.

A statement from the