SPORTING fixtures
across Inishowen and the rest of the county fell
foul of the wintry weather on Sunday. Just four of
the 11 Inishowen League matches down for decision on
Sunday went ahead, with only the morning kick-offs
in the Fr O’Gara Cup surviving. Carn Reserves
Reserve League Premier Division game against Aileach
Reserves did kick off at 11am but had to be
abandoned at half-time because of a combination of
frosty underfoot conditions and falling snow.
And Glengad United’s on-off-on-and-off-again FAI
Junior Cup fixture against City United was postponed
for the second time in two weeks with the Sligo side
unable to travel due to heavy snowfall making
travelling conditions dangerous.
Elsewhere, Donegal’s opening game of the National
Hurling League against Longford in O’Donnell Park,
Letterkenny, was called off early on Sunday morning
owing to the blanket of snow covering the pitch. And
last night’s county board meeting was postponed for
the second time in two weeks owing to a forecast of
heavy frost and icy roads.
“This is the worst run of weather-related
cancellations since I first became involved with the
league,” said Inishowen League secretary Diarmuid
O’Brien. “There have been odd weeks in the past that
we might have lost the entire programme to the
weather, but there hasn’t been anything as prolonged
as this.”
O’Brien said that the League will evaluate its
fixture schedule later in the season. “Save for a
couple of outstanding games, most of our leagues are
usually concluded by the end of April but the season
officially runs until 1 June,” O’Brien said. “We’ll
know better closer to the time, but we might see
some games running into May this year, or, if
necessary, some midweek games. But there’s no danger
at this time that our competitions won’t be
completed.”
Donegal officials have not as yet received
confirmation of when the hurling game against
Longford will be rescheduled, but the cancellation
topped a woeful weekend for the GAA in the county
with the cancellation of the County Banquet on
Friday night and a Regional League game between the
Southwest and East on Saturday.
Indeed, with several cancellations already due to
frozen pitches the Regional League – brainchild of
new county manager John Joe Doherty – has stuttered
to a standstill over the past five weeks. So far,
Inishowen have managed to play only one match and
the promise of an enjoyable short, sharp pre-season
competition against the best players from the rest
of the county now looks like a cruel joke.
Meanwhile, Croke Park has confirmed that O’Donnell
Park, Letterkenny, and not Mac Cumhaill Park
Ballybofey, will host next Saturday’s National
Football League match between Donegal and Mayo.
Croke Park officials were understood to have been
unhappy with the dressing rooms at the Ballybofey
venue. New dressing rooms are under construction,
and the alternative dressing rooms under the terrace
were not deemed adequate for an intercounty match.
(Inishowen Independent) |
