Club official vows to ‘lie in the middle of the pitch’ to halt Limerick final

A Limerick club official has vowed he will "lie in the middle of the pitch" to prevent the playing of a divisional junior hurling final in the city next weekend.

Hammy Dawson of the St Patrick’s club said they were unable to fulfil their JAHL semi-final fixture against Crecora on Saturday night as eight of their players were involved with the Limerick senior and intermediate footballers that evening in the Munster championship double-header against Tipperary.

He claimed that St Patrick’s – one of the city’s smaller clubs – asked the city division board for a re-fixture but were refused. But he insists this is not the end of the matter for the club.

“We asked for a postponement, offered to play today (Bank Holiday Monday) but they wouldn’t hear of it,” said Dawson, long-time club committee member. “We were then forced into giving a walkover. Fixing that game made no sense but refusing to reschedule was worse, showed no respect for either hurling or football, certainly showed no respect for this club or for the players involved.

“We don’t blame Crecora, we blame the City Division board. They were wrong from day one to fix the match for that date. The final is fixed for Saturday, Crecora and Na Piarsaigh.

“But if they try to go ahead with that I will lie in the middle of the pitch — that game will not take place. I’ll do everything I can physically to make sure of that. It’s a disgrace.

“We’re an inner city club, draw our players from Rhebogue and Garryowen and this is sending out the wrong signals. We’re calling now on the board to rethink what has happened and reschedule that game.”