IRISH CUP: Semi-final between Ballymena United and Newry City POSTPONED
It's after confirmation was received that Glentoran have opted to take their appeal to arbitration
Next week's scheduled Samuel Gelston's Irish Cup semi-final between Ballymena United and Newry City AFC will now not go ahead.
It's after the Irish Football Association received confirmation today that Glentoran have decided to take their appeal against their dismissal from the competition to arbitration.
Today (Wednesday) was the final day the Glens had to decide if they wished to take the matter further and comes after they lost an appeal at an IFA independent appeals panel hearing.
Mick McDermott's side beat Newry 1-0 at The Oval in the quarter-final of the competition courtesy of a Jay Donnelly goal on Saturday March 5. However, City protested that Glens defender Joe Crowe was ineligible to play as he hadn't completed a three-match ban picked up while playing for Glentoran's Reserves.
The IFA Disciplinary Committee upheld Newry's protest, before the Independent Appeals Panel threw out Glentoran's subsequent appeal against that decision on all counts.
That meant Ballymena and Newry were set to meet on Wednesday April 13th at Mourneview Park to see who would meet Crusaders in the final at Windsor Park next month.
However, it's believed that it will be at least another two weeks before an arbitration decision is reached, meaning the second semi-final remains on hold.