GAA confident All-Ireland SFC semi-finals will go ahead this weekend amid adverse weather

Tony Brosnan of Dr Crokes in action against Willie Eviston of Loughmore Castleiney. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The GAA are confident the rescheduled All-Ireland senior club football semi-finals will take place this weekend.

At the second time of asking, it is hoped Portlaoise’s Laois Hire O’Moore Park and Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni will be able to host the Dr Crokes v Errigal Ciarán and Coolera-Strandhill v Cuala games this Saturday afternoon.

Both games were due to be played last Sunday but called off due to the inclement weather, which also forced the postponement of three of the four opening Sigerson Cup matches down for Tuesday – UCC v UCD in The Mardyke, Trinity University v University of Galway in Grangegorman and TUS Midlands v Maynooth University in Athlone.

The GAA’s director of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill confirmed there are contingency plans in place should either All-Ireland club SFC semi-final venue not be playable.

“It’s the absolute preference for everyone involved that they do go ahead this weekend,” said McGill. “It would be massively disruptive if they didn’t. The chances are they will go ahead this weekend and we have contingency plans in place but we will not be making them public.

“We can’t rule anything in or out. We have the venues and back-up venues but we’ll see how the week pans out. We’re pretty confident we will get the games played.” 

McGill would not be drawn on the identity of the alternative venue(s). Croke Park is due to host the intermediate club football and hurling and junior hurling finals this Sunday while the junior football showdown is scheduled for Parnell Park.

Last January, both senior club football semi-finals went ahead in difficult conditions. Glen’s clash with Kilmacud Crokes was played in dense fog while half of the FBD Semple Stadium pitch for the Castlehaven-St Brigid’s match was covered in frost.

Later that month, there were three aborted attempts to host a Cork-Limerick Munster Hurling League game before the provincial council eventually decided to abandon the competition.

Between now and the end of March, which equates to 12 weekends, a total of 217 fixtures (eight All-Ireland club, 116 Allianz Football League and 93 hurling league), all under the auspices of the national Central Competitions Control Committee are scheduled.

The matrix is a hectic one, McGill acknowledged. 

“Games have to be played at some stage. Look, January hasn’t been great this year. We had other Januarys when there have been no issues whatsoever. March can be as bad as and statistically we lose more games in March than in any other month.

“The only reset we can do is play less games. The All-Ireland club semi-finals and finals are at the elite end of the club window but the vast, overwhelming majority of the thousands of games are played in great conditions and they are the greatest concern for us.” 

Meanwhile, other Sigerson Cup first round games, St Mary’s University College v Queen’s University in Davitts GAA club in Belfast (throw-in, 2pm) and the clash of ATU Galway and University of Limerick in Liam Mellows (7pm start), are due to go ahead on Wednesday.

DCU DÉ v MTU Kerry will take place on Friday at 5pm in DCU, while the game between ATU Donegal and MTU Cork will be staged on Friday evening with time and venue to be confirmed.

AND IF THE WORST COMES TO WORSE IN THE LEAGUE… 

Allianz Football League

Comprises: Seven round weekends and one finals weekend.

Break weekends: Two (February 8/9 and March 8/9).

Contingencies: In the event of a forced postponement, the CCCC with the go-ahead of the relevant provincial secretary can schedule the game for the next available date, which in the case of Saturday games is the following day, Sunday.

In exceptional circumstances, the CCCC may refix the postponed game in a venue outside the home county.

If because of forced postponements a division is not fully completed by March 29/30, league positioning at the end of the last full round of fixtures will determine final league positions for purpose of Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cups qualifications.

Allianz Hurling League 

Comprises: Six round weekends and finals over two weekends.

Break weekends: Two (February 15/16 and March 15/16).

Contingencies: The same as above although the last full round of game stipulation applies to the football league.