Ash won’t stop Mayo answering London calling

JAMES HORAN’S Mayo may face some last-minute rearranging ahead of this weekend’s away Connacht SFC quarter-final against London if the dreaded ash cloud hits Irish airspace.

The two sides are due to meet at Ruislip in east London on Saturday but whether players and fans will make their scheduled flights remains to be seen.

But Aiden McLoughlin, Mayo County Board PRO, believes the ash cloud will have little baring on the weekend.

“We don’t envisage any problems at the moment,” he said.

“The flights are all booked and we are just keeping an eye on the meteorological websites and staying in touch with the airlines.

“The ash cloud is expected in Greece on Wednesday and the information we are receiving is that there should be no disruption to our original plans.

“We have looked into getting a ferry crossing over. That wouldn’t pose too much of a problem because all the kit and gear are being brought by sea anyway. It would just be a case of sourcing a local coach and heading over on the Friday evening as opposed to Saturday.

“The accommodation is also sorted so it would just mean staying an extra night. The team will still train tonight and Thursday night, whether we leave on Friday or Saturday makes no difference to us.”

While it may be smooth sailing for the players and coaches, flight disruption poses a much bigger problem to fans planning to make the trip.

Former Mayo GAA Communications officer Piaras Ó Raghallaigh said the ash cloud has left supporters in two minds about going. “On the ground here, there is huge concern about the weekend now. A lot of people have been on to their local travel agents. Some of the clubs here that have block-booked tickets are very concerned because they might have booked buses, accommodation and tickets.

“There was very little knowledge of the problem until yesterday evening when Obama left early. That’s when everybody started worrying about heir own flights to London this weekend.

“Coming home is the big concern for fans. People I spoke to got caught in France and Spain last year and had to spend 20 to 30 hours in cars, trains and ferries trying to get home, which would be nightmare if it happened on Saturday. I know some people are talking about cancelling their plans to go this weekend.”