JARLY Og Burns has been ruled out of today’s Armagh Senior Hurling Championship semi-final between his club Craobh Rua and Middletown.
Dual-star Burns was injured while playing for Silverbridge in Saturday evening’s Armagh preliminary quarter-final clash with Crossmaglen at the Athletic Grounds. The Orchard County All-Ireland-winner had treatment for what appeared to be an Achilles injury early in the first half and although he finished the game, he has been ruled out of the hurling semi-final.
Craobh Rua had threatened to pull out of the fixture but it will go ahead at the Athletic Grounds (3,30pm).
The potential for injury to their players was exactly what Craobh Rua - preparing for their second county semi-final in 25 years - feared when they requested that the Armagh County Board postpone the game until later this week.
Dual-player Fionnan Burns also played Silverbridge against Crossmaglen and Sean and Paddy McVerry lined-out for St Michael’s, Newtownhamilton against An Port Mor in the junior football championship on Saturday.
Middletown (a dual club) had their junior football championship quarter-final postponed by a week but because Craobh Rua are a hurling-only club, their appeal for the same accomodation fell on deaf ears.
“It’s not realistic to ask lads to play championship games on a Saturday and a Sunday,” said a Craobh Rua clubman.
“Four of our starting 15 are expected to play Saturday-Sunday… If the county board is serious about promoting hurling in Armagh this isn’t the way to do it.”
