ARMAGH’S senior hurling Championship semi-final between Craobh Rua and Middletown on Sunday may not go ahead after a disagreement over fixture congestion and burn-out issues.
It has emerged that the Armagh County Board postponed dual-club Middletown’s Junior Football Championship quarter-final from this weekend to the following weekend to allow their dual players to concentrate on the hurling semi-final.
However, Craobh Rua (a hurling-only club based in football-dominated South Armagh) are aggrieved that a similar accommodation has not been found for four of their players who will play in football quarter-finals this weekend.
Jarly Óg Burns and Fionnan Burns will represent Silverbridge against Crossmaglen in a senior championship preliminary quarter-final at 6pm on Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, their Craobh Rua team-mates Sean and Paddy McVerry are due to line-out for St Michael’s, Newtownhamilton against An Port Mor in the Junior Football Championship.
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The hurling semi-final is scheduled for 3.30pm the following day and, highlighting burn-out issues and the need for a consistent approach, Craobh Rua officials asked for the hurling semi-finals to be moved to accommodate their dual-players.
They offered to play the game during next week and were prepared to travel to Middletown to play it but the Armagh County Board has not been receptive to their appeal.
“It’s not realistic to ask lads to play championship games on a Saturday and a Sunday,” said a Craobh Rua clubman.
“The county board has come back and said ‘no’, they’re not moving it without giving us a reason. We’re not asking for the football games that affect our players to be moved, we’re only asking for the hurling to be moved.
“The fact that they moved Middletown’s football game to accommodate their dual players isn’t really fair. Four of our starting 15 are expected to play Saturday-Sunday and if the county board is serious about promoting hurling in Armagh this isn’t the way to do it.
“We’re happy to play any night next week, we’ll even go to Middletown. Craobh Rua are massive underdogs but you can’t flog lads like that, it’s just not right.”
Under current rules it is understood that the county board are not obliged to change fixtures for non-dual clubs, but unless an accommodation is reached there is the possibility that Craobh Rua may elect not to field on Sunday in protest.
