Replay potential dictates fixtures

GAA chiefs have insisted that they have to play both All-Ireland U21FC semi-finals this weekend in order to allow time for replays ahead of the national decider on the May Bank Holiday weekend.

Ulster county board officials believed that their provincial representatives would be allowed an extra week to prepare for a semi-final on April 23 due to the replays between Tyrone and Down that have delayed the staging of their decider until last night in Enniskillen. But GAA communications manager Alan Milton is adamant that they had to proceed with this weekend’s scheduling in order to meet the deadline to complete the competition.

“We can’t go beyond the May Bank Holiday weekend because of the impact it would then have on club championship fixtures around the country. If we played one of the semi-finals on April 23rd, we’d be in trouble if it ended up going to a replay. So by playing both semi-finals this Saturday, we’ve allowed ourselves the chance to hold replays the weekend after if needed.”