Ladies Football Finalists Hit Out At Men’s Club Fixtures On All-Ireland Final Day
The captains of two counties involved in Sunday’s All-Ireland ladies football finals have expressed their disappointment that men’s club fixtures will take place locally on the same day.
Roscommon will face Fermanagh in the intermediate decider at Croke Park, while Carlow meet Antrim in the junior final.
Despite the occasion, senior men’s club championship games are scheduled in both Roscommon and Carlow on Sunday. Junior and intermediate fixtures are also due to be played, affecting the number of supporters able to travel to Dublin.
Kerry and Galway will contest the senior final later in the afternoon. While no senior men’s football championship games are scheduled in Kerry that day, the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship final will take place in Tralee at 2pm.
Roscommon’s intermediate final against Fermanagh throws in at 1.45pm, but a number of men’s club games in the county are also expected to begin around that time.
Some fixtures have been moved to accommodate Roscommon’s appearance in Croke Park, but captain Helena Cummins remains disappointed that others are proceeding.
I know some of them were changed, which was fantastic to see, but I still think there’s some of them down, from the last time I checked.
There’s still some of them due to throw in around 1pm, in and around the same time as our game. Not ideal.
I suppose you probably wouldn’t see it if it was the men’s football team in a final.
The LGFA club schedule has been cleared for the weekend, allowing those involved in ladies football across the country to attend the finals.
Cummins believes a similar approach should have been taken with the men’s club championships, particularly with the planned amalgamation of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association moving closer.
That’s a little bit disappointing. But hopefully we’ll have enough supporters to get us over the line and the true supporters will come and support us.
You see with the ladies football, they put a halt to any club activity for the weekend, which is fantastic to see. It does encourage people to go up.
It’s a pity it couldn’t be done in the men’s football as well, especially considering that amalgamation is coming next year.
Carlow’s meeting with Antrim will be the first time a ladies football team from the county has played at Croke Park.
The historic nature of the occasion has added to the frustration surrounding the club fixtures, with Carlow captain Róisín Bailey describing the issue as a “bone of contention”.
I don’t know what the relationship is there with the powers that be, but there are a couple of games going ahead which is maybe a little bit disappointing for us.
I get that they probably have a tight window, but there are lads who are expected to play on Sunday, and they have sisters and wives on the team.
Although some throw-in times have been adjusted to give players and supporters an opportunity to get to Croke Park, Bailey feels everyone connected to the team should be able to enjoy the entire occasion.
I know they’ll probably make it back. I think games are slightly delayed and they’ll make it back, but it’s a massive day and we want to enjoy it.
We’d love for all our support to come up and enjoy it as well. We’re going to try to put that to the back of our minds. Supporters are probably more upset over it than we are.
The junior final between Carlow and Antrim will begin Sunday’s triple-header before Roscommon face Fermanagh in the intermediate decider. Kerry and Galway will then contest the senior final.
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