Coaching priest’s prayers for early start unheard by GAA gods

A LADIES football coach willing to spend €3,000 to attend an All-Ireland final is disgusted that authorities refused to put the game back by 90 minutes.

Fr Liam Kelleher, joint coach of the Cork U16 team which faces Donegal at Mullingar in a championship decider, is officiating at a wedding ceremony in Ballycotton at the time of the match tomorrow.

The Cork priest offered to pay for the hire of a helicopter, if the throw-in time of the game was switched from 3.30pm to 5pm.

However, he had to abandon his plans after the Central Council didn’t agree to the request.

“I’m gutted to miss the final but the wedding comes first. I felt Central Council could have accommodated my request but it wasn’t to be.”

The team is managed by Fr Kelleher, Charlie McLoughlin (a native of Donegal), Con O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), Mary Power (Beara) and Dinny Healy (St Val’s).

They had their final training session in Macroom on Wednesday night.

“The team captain, Siobhan Forde, did the warm-up, which I usually do,’’ explained Fr Kelleher.

“She will also take charge for the final. As a treat, the girls are being taken to the Ulster football final in Croke Park. They will stay in the West County on Saturday night and go on to the match the following day. We thought they deserved that after getting to the final,’’ he added.

Cork defeated holders and championship favourites Dublin two weeks ago to secure their place in the final.

“Donegal qualified on merit. This will not distract us and the girls must remain focused for the full 60 minutes. Defeating Dublin doesn’t mean anything. This is a new game,” he added.