Leitrim fury as Croke Park bosses return league clash to London

THE final round of the NFL 2A programme has been postponed for a week due to the re-fixture of the controversial London v Leitrim game.

Croke Park bosses informed the county boards at the weekend that the tie will be played in Ruislip on Sunday afternoon.

The round three game was originally scheduled for February 25 but postponed hours before throw in due to the adverse weather.

Leitrim officials were furious at the timing of the decision and estimate they spent €17,000 in organising the trip and accommodation.

They demanded that the re-fixture be played in Ireland and GAA chiefs subsequently planned to play the game in Newbridge.

However this was appealed by London bosses who now feel justice has been done.

Said a source: “We are very pleased and quite happy with the outcome. Any time a game is postponed in Ireland the match is re-fixed for that original venue. All we wanted is fair play and what would happen in Ireland. Thankfully that has happened.”

Leitrim PRO Brendan Doyle said that his board will not appeal the decision.

“We are travelling. As far as we are concerned we will go play the game and look to build on that.

“We were focused on playing Monaghan next weekend but we are happy to go. We always said that we would go ahead with the game wherever it was fixed for. We are not going to kick up a fuss. We just want to play the match and see where we lie. We must get this game out of the way as it will have a huge bearing on the table.”

However he admitted: “We were notified late on Sunday night and the timing is making it difficult to try to get travel arrangements sorted out.”

Ironically Leitrim are down to play London in Ruislip in the first round of the Connacht Championship.