Laois match timetable is ‘crazy’, says O’Dwyer

MICK O’DWYER is anything but happy about the prospect of Laois footballers having to play major games on consecutive Sundays, describing the fixing of their championship meeting with Wexford the week after their Allianz National League final against holders Tyrone as “crazy”.

Of the four counties contesting the first and second divisional finals in Croke Park on May 4, Tyrone will have a two-week break before they play Derry in the Ulster championship in Clones. All-Ireland champions Armagh, beaten by Laois on Sunday, make the first defence of their title a week earlier against Monaghan, at the same venue.

Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey shares O'Dwyer's views about the pressure such timetabling places on players. However, Limerick manager Liam Kerins was philosophical about their situation after Monday's comprehensive victory over Wexford. "We have been building towards our match with Cork all year, but that is what you train for big games,'' he said.

Leinster chairman Nicky Brennan said the council had no choice but to fix the games for Sunday fortnight in order to meet their deadlines. He said the Laois/Wexford game had originally been fixed for May 4 but was moved back a week in anticipation of one of the counties being involved in a League decider.

O'Dwyer said he found it hard to understand why they could not have been given another week.

"It's a crazy system, to play a national final on a given day and put you straight out the following Sunday in the championship. We'll only have to get on with it. But, if you win you are on a high and if you lose, you're on a downer. Trying to lift them then would be another problem. It could be a bit of a disaster.''

Dempsey, who fancied Limerick to beat Wexford in the second of the Division Two semi-finals said for them the "big one" is their championship meeting with Carlow.

"We'll have to really have to have our sights focused on that game. The minimum requirement after any big final is two weeks, so it would be difficult if you pick up any niggly injuries.

"If you win a final, it gives you very little time to celebrate. If you lose it has the opposite effect. I don't know why they couldn't have the foresight to put the first round a fortnight after and give everybody a fair chance,'' he said.

*Both the Laois/Wexford and Westmeath/Carlow games will be played in Croke Park along with the tie involving Louth and Wicklow as part of a unique triple-header. According to Nicky Brennan, the Leinster Council decided on this course of action in order to give the games a higher profile. "W have an obligation to the so-called lesser lights to give them a day in Croke Park,'' he said.

Financially, it represents something of a gamble for the Council, because of the high cost of staging games in Croke Park. However, Brennan said "it can't always be about money, otherwise the purpose of the stadium being redeveloped is lost'.'

*The GAC has yet to decide on the venue for the National Hurling League final, to be played on Monday May 5. Next Sunday's games (Kilkenny v Wexford, Tipperary v Clare and Cork v Galway), will decide the finalists. For Cork (10 points) to be involved, they would not only need to win their game, but depend on Clare upsetting Tipperary (11). Holders Kilkenny (12) also have the best scoring difference, just two points better than Tipp but ten more than Cork.

It's unlikely Croke Park will be the venue, irrespective of who is involved. It's possible that Nowlan Park could be chosen. Capacity in Semple Stadium has been restricted during construction work on the 'old' stand.