Cork club Ringmahon hand FAI Cup walkover to Bohemians due to All-Ireland hurling final clash

Jack Cairns of Ringmahon Rangers wins the ball during a Munster Senior League clash with UCC. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

Munster Senior League champions Ringmahon Rangers have chosen to give Bohemians an FAI Cup walkover on July 19 due to a potential clash with the All-Ireland hurling final.

The FAI set a deadline of today for a venue and kick-off to be confirmed for the second-round clash and the Cork club informed them of their unavailability on Friday.

As their home pitch of Ringmahon Park had been deemed unsuitable for the game, the club were to nominate St Colman’s Park in Cobh, but a kick-off time of 2pm was too close to throw-in at Croke Park for a crowd to be expected at the cup tie. There’s also the matter of the World Cup final kicking off at 8pm. The All-Ireland final throws in at 3:30pm.

On top of the turnout being impacted, Caoimhín Kelleher’s schoolboy club would expect to be missing several of their players attending the final – should the Cork hurlers get past Galway in this Saturday's semi-final.

Flexibility on alternative dates was hamstrung by Bohemians’ European commitments.

As the second leg of their Conference League meeting with St Joseph’s is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, Friday or Saturday were ruled out by the Gypsies and the FAI.

Monday night was also dismissed as Bohs could have another European game looming.

A Ringmahon spokesman confirmed the walkover but declined to comment further.