Laois hopes of deferral quashed as TV schedule gets priority

THE Leinster Council has defended it’s decision not to re-arrange Sunday’s Leinster football semi-final between Laois and Wexford, claiming it’s hands were tied by TV scheduling commitments.

With the Féile na nGael finals being held in Laois and Offaly this weekend, a request was lodged with the provincial body to move the football match so as not to take from the national underage competition which will finish at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise on Sunday.

“It’s very simple,” said Leinster Council vice-chairman Martin Skelly. “We are contracted to TV3 for the game and that means date and time, the whole works.

“In fairness to Laois, they made their application in good time and, in normal circumstances, something could have been done but this was a done deal last October.

“It’s as simple as that. TV schedules are done months in advance and it would have been unfair to TV3 to go changing that at such a late hour.”

The double booking leaves some Laois GAA supporters with a difficult choice to make but there was also a concern that the game in Croke Park would deprive the Féile of essential stewarding personnel who might opt for the trip to Dublin instead.

However, the Offaly county board has agreed to provide all the stewarding for the Sunday finals in Portlaoise in light of the logistical problems and Skelly was keen to point out that Saturday will be a busier day logistically.

The venue for Sunday’s championship game has also been questioned in some quarters, especially in light of an attendance of under 22,000 that turned up for the Kildare-Wicklow and Meath-Carlow double bill at HQ last month.

The presence of the Wexford senior footballers, senior hurlers and minor hurlers should ensure a large travelling support from the south-east alone but it remains to be seen what effect on numbers the presence of the Dublin hurlers in a championship game on Jones’ Road will have.

“A lot of people are playing hurling there now and Nowlan Park last week would have been a long trip for a lot of people,” said Skelly.

“This week’s game is in their own back yard and it will be interesting to see what the turnout is.”