THIS week was supposed to sort out semi finalists for the Danske Bank MacRory and MacLarnon Cups. But the cold snap has thrown the Ulster schools’ Council’s best laid plans into chaos.
Already Ulster Schools GAA have had to move MacRory games scheduled for Wednesday and Friday.
The much anticipated quarter-final between Abbey Vocational, Donegal and St Colman’s, Newry will now take place on Sunday afternoon 3pm in the Donegal Centre for Excellence in Convoy, the same day the county’s junior champions, Muff’s Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin, face Cork side Cill Mhuire in Parnell Park in and All-Ireland junior semi-final.
The other game already rescheduled is the Derry derby between St Mary’s, Magherafelt and St Patrick’s, Maghera and will now will take place on Wednesday evening (7.30pm) in Owenbeg.
The remaining two MacRory fixtures are still in place.
After an inspection on Thursday in Healy Park, the go-ahead was given for the clash of champions Omagh CBS v the South West Donegal combination for Friday evening at 7.30pm. However, as a precaution, a second pitch inspection will take place on Friday at noon.
The St Patrick’s, Armagh v Abbey CBS game is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the Box-It Athletic Grounds.
Meanwhile, the Danske Bank MacLarnon Cup has been badly hit with this week’s three quarter-finals all postponed.
Lecale Trinity, Downpatrick v Dean Maguirc, Carrickmore has been moved to Monday with venue to be confirmed, but the original venue, the Dub, is still in the mix.
The other east Down school St Malachy’s, Castlewellan are up against Patrician, Carrickmacross and they have rescheduled for Tuesday at 2.15pm in Corduff. Tuesday was already the day scheduled for St Pius X, Magherafelt v Rathmore - a venue and time still has to be confirmed for that game.
Our Lady and St Patrick’s Knock v Aquinas in the Belfast derby was called off yesterday morning and a refixture has still to be announced.
The Markey Cup quarter-finals took place before Christmas and the semi-finals are due to run next week. St Mark’s Warrenpoint will play St Columb’s Derry in MUSA at noon on Wednesday with Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dóbhair v St Patrick’s, Keady on Friday in Celtic Park also at noon.
Two quarter--finals in the Faul Cup also took place before the cold snap with Gaelcholáiste Dhoire beating Coláiste na Carraige from Donegal 2-8 to 2-4 and Bailieborough Community school enjoying a 4-10 to 2-2 win over Monaghan school Coláiste Oiriall.
However the Loreto, Coleraine v St Conor’s Clady/Kilrea derby has been postponed until Tuesday. Largy College Clones v St Aidan’s Cootehill was also floored on Thursday by the snow. A re-fixture date is still to be announced.
In hurling, the semi-final of the Casement Shield between St Columb’s Derry and Coláiste Feirste has been postponed twice and will now have to fit in around the Derry side’s Markey Cup commitments.
Camogie’s Rosina McManus Cup final on Wednesday between Gaelcholáiste Dhoire and first-time finalists St Genevieve’s Belfast has also still to be rescheduled with the former ironically heading off on a ski trip this weekend.
The provincial camogie council are still hopeful that the Corn Uan Uladh senior final will take place on Saturday at the Dub Arena at 11am.