Minor quarter-final postponed over swine flu fears

Next Saturday's ESB All-Ireland Minor Football Championship quarter-final between Down and Dublin has been postponed at the request of the Down County Board, following the spread of swine flu symptoms in the Down squad.

Twenty playing members of the Down minor panel and two members of the management team were taken ill last week, amid fears of a possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus.

With a number of the player still recovering, the GAA have agreed to postpone the quarter-final fixture which was due to take place on Saturday at Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan.

A GAA statement, released this evening, read: "The postponement was granted in the context of a serious viral infection within the Down minor panel, which has affected the overwhelming majority of the Down players.

"The Association has pointed out that as a general policy it does not grant postponements on the basis of illness to players.

"However, having taken advice from relevant medical personnel, and taking into consideration the sheer number of players involved and general concerns expressed with respect to the Swine flu pandemic, the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee) felt that the granting of a postponement in the unique circumstances was the only logical course of action."

No date has, as yet, been confirmed for a re-fixture.