St Dominics unhappy postponed AIB Connacht Club IFC Semi-Final wasn't moved to Connacht Centre of Excellence

Roscommon champions St Dominics have expressed their disappointment that Sunday’s postponed AIB Connacht Club Intermediate Championship Semi-Final against Aughnasheelin was not moved to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence despite attempts to refix the game on Sunday.

St Dominics Club Football Secretary Alan McCormack spoke to the Observer after the game was officially postponed and emphasised the disappointment in the Roscommon team’s camp that the game would not be going ahead: “Very disappointing, particularly for the players having made a special effort to be available this weekend and leading up to it. 

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“We were really looking forward to it but unfortunately, it was moved, the weather was bad here. I saw the pitch and I was talking to a local clubman here, he said it rained very heavily this morning. I It is no fault of the local club here.”

However, Alan was disappointed that the game was not switched to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan: “Very disappointing that another option to play in Bekan in Ballyhaunis was made available twice later in the day under lights and very unfortunate that our opposition have, I was told, refused to play.

“Bekan is available, there are four or five pitches over there and there is no reason why we couldn’t play the game over there and in fairness to the players, get the job done and whoever wins, wins.”

St Dominics Football Secretary Alan McCormack Picture: Willie Donnellan

The refixed game may cause problems for St Dominics with talk that some of their players may struggle to be available next weekend but Alan stressed that the refixed game will cause problems for both teams: “We’ll see what happens, it is up to Connacht Council to rearrange the game. 

“We’re still looking forward to a Connacht Semi-Final, it will be awkward for some players but that is what happens and may the best team win on the day. mIt is probably the same for both teams, I was chatting to some of the players from Aughnasheelin and some of them have graduations and so-on so they’re not happy either. 

“There are always players missing, we have a strong squad, strength in depth so we’re looking forward to the semi-final whenever it happens. I was told the Final was in two weeks time which mightn’t be moved so if it is next weekend, whoever wins next weekend will only have a week to prepare for the final which is unfortunate.”

Originally fixed for Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada, Aughnasheelin’s clash with Roscommon champions St Dominic’s was moved to Cloone after the Carrick-on-Shannon was deemed unplayable after a 10 am pitch inspection on Sunday. Cloone GAA Club answered the call to stage the game but after a pitch inspection by referee Christopher Ryan, the pitch was deemed unplayable.

UPDATED - Aughnasheelin Connacht Semi Final off as Cloone pitch deemed unplayable

Connacht GAA officials tried to have the game switched to the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence in Bekan with a later throw-in time of 4 pm but agreement was not forthcoming with the game due to be refixed at Monday’s meeting of the Connacht Competitions Control Committee.

Connacht GAA have said that all tickets purchased for the postponed fixture will be valid for the refixed game as will as tickets for the livesteam of the game which were purchased.

Tickets purchased for this game will be valid for the refixture or you can request a refund through https://t.co/AqTNPxM2eK which will be issued as soon as possible.

All stream purchases will also be valid for the refixture.

— Connacht GAA (@ConnachtGAA) November 20, 2022