Worsening weather may mess with GAA's early season schedule

BIG FREEZE: Saturday's hurling challenge between Tipperary and Clare at Páirc Shilean in Templemore was one of several GAA fixtures postponed at the weekend - and more may follow. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

THE GAA'S concertinaed early season schedule faces the risk of being torpedoed by a stretch of inclement weather, pitch closures and match postponements.

With the Allianz Leagues due to start in less than three weeks, Croke Park was planning to have all the club finals out of the way with a week to spare. But the weekend postponements of the All-Ireland Club SFC semi-finals scheduled for Portlaoise and Breffni Park could - if worsening forecasts are realised - kick the football final to the weekend of January 25th, which clashes with the first round of the national hurling and football leagues. Croke Park has the football final set for the weekend of January 18th.