Kingdom clubs see red over fixtures

Two Kerry football clubs have hit out at the Munster Ladies Council for forcing at least eight players to play two games in a day.

Kerry senior champions Sliabh Luachra and junior champions Scartaglin are fixed to play in the Munster championship tomorrow. However, half the Sliabh Luachra team which claimed the county title on Wednesday night, also play for Scartaglin who are due to play Boherbue from Cork at 12.30pm tomorrow in Ballydesmond. The players involved with Sliabh Luachra would have to dash for the Tarbert Car Ferry to make Doolin for a 5.30pm throw-in against Clare champions, Banner (Ennis) in the Munster Senior B semi-final.

Kerry wing-back Julie Brosnan called the whole scenario a “joke” as she points out that the four most important games in her season are all taking place within a seven-day period.

“I played in Croke Park on Sunday and had to suffer the disappointment of losing an All-Ireland final to Cork, and we did not get home until Monday night,” she said.

“Then we had to recover quickly and faced a tough battle before overcoming Southern Gaels in the county final on Wednesday night. We picked up a few injuries but there is no time to recover and we are expected to play two Munster Club games on Saturday.

“The question I would like to ask is, can the body sustain that kind of physicality in such a short space of time? Even having such a tough county final, three days following an All-Ireland final was madness, not to mind what is ahead of us this weekend and more importantly. Having so many games in such a short space of time will have a impact on how we perform in Munster.”

Kerry County Board PRO and manager of the Sliabh Luachra side Pat Hartnett said if the fixture stands they will have to pull out of the Munster Senior B semi-final on health and safety grounds.

“If they miss the ferry for any reason, they will be an hour late, so at this stage, it looks like Sliabh Luachra might have to withdraw. We cannot see any justification for asking girls to play two games on the one afternoon, 60 or 70 miles apart.”