London to foot total €20k bill for maiden FBD voyage
London County Board delegates voted unanimously on Monday to back a proposal to enter a team in the Connacht competition which begins next January. Connacht Council secretary John Prenty welcomed their participation and outlined how the provincial body has attempted to accommodate the Exiles by organising the fixtures so they only have to travel over two weekends in order to fulfil their four group fixtures.
“We’re thrilled that London have decided to come on board but like all the other counties in the FBD League, they will be footing the costs to enter it themselves. The same conditions are there for everyone and we’ve outlined that to them, which they are happy with. We received their application at some stage during the summer and then met them in Dublin on the weekend of the All-Ireland final to discuss the details.
“We designed the fixtures to suit them by placing them in a group with Sligo and Sligo IT, and Galway and NUIG. That way they only have to travel over to Ireland for two weekends in January. They will travel to Sligo one weekend and Galway another weekend, playing two games on each weekend, one on a Friday night and another on a Sunday afternoon.
“They went back to their county board to discuss all of those proposals and then decided whether or not to enter. It’s great news that they got the backing that they needed and it’s a very progressive step for them. The main benefit for them is they’ll be able to get a couple of games in before they play the National League.”
London senior football manager Paul Coggins has expressed his delight at the prospect of his side participating in next year’s FBD League. The pre-season games will provide Coggins and his players with ideal preparation for their Allianz Football League Division 4 campaign. London are scheduled to face Fermanagh, who they famously defeated in last summer’s All-Ireland qualifiers, in their opening league encounter in Ruislip on February 5.
“The players have all been very enthusiastic about the idea of playing in the FBD League since it was first mentioned. In the past, London teams wouldn’t have been as ready as they’d like to have been for those first few National League games because the match practice wasn’t available. That’s why the FBD League should benefit us and allow us to hit the ground running by the time the National League starts. We’re very pleased our delegates backed us.”
Meanwhile the London County Board are to investigate an incident which marred Saturday’s Division One Senior Football League final between Kingdom Kerry Gaels and Neasden Gaels at Ruislip. Referee Beano Collins showed a straight red card to Paul Geraghty after allegedly being struck by the Neasden centre-forward, who is a key member of the London senior football panel.
Kingdom won the game in extra-time thanks to a dubious late goal from Maurice Carrig that gave them a 1-12 to 1-9 victory following an ill-tempered affair. Controversy erupted and a melee ensued when the referee allowed the goal to stand. Collins appeared to have been knocked to the ground by Geraghty and claimed afterwards that he had been struck by the 28-year-old Galway native. It was the third sending-off of the game as Kingdom’s Brendan O’Sullivan and Neasden’s Peadar Friel had also been dismissed in normal time.
Officials are now waiting to receive Collins’ match report before deciding their next course of action. However, London County Board chairman Tommy Harrell, who was present at Ruislip on Saturday, admitted that an investigation is likely.
“The referee’s report is going to be the crucial factor. If he’s going to give a full account of what happened, the player will be charged and a suspension will be proposed, which he will have the right to contest. This is a very serious issue that will require swift action.”
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