Soccer club bans boys for playing GAA

A SOCCER club in north Cork has been heavily criticised after suspending four boys for playing in a GAA match.

Because of a clash of fixtures last Sunday, the boys were forced to chose between the two sports. Four of them decided to play for Fermoy GAA club and lined out in the north Cork U-15 A final against Mallow.

The following evening when they arrived for soccer training, they were told they would be suspended for the rest of the season for failing to turn for the soccer match.

Charlie Campion, whose son James was one of the four, said he was extremely disappointed by the attitude of the soccer club.

“I was gobsmacked. It’s an over-reaction. I played both codes and I never had any problem,” Mr Campion said. Tommy Clancy, chairman of Fermoy Schoolboys’ Soccer Club said: “It is not the policy of the club to discuss any matters.”