New playing surface for Pairc Sean a priority in wake of Connacht club postponement

A new playing surface at Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada is an absolute priority according to Leitrim GAA County Board chairman Enda Stenson after Sunday’s AIB Connacht Intermediate Club Semi-Final was postponed after pitches in Carrick and Cloone were deemed unplayable.

Aughnasheelin’s clash with Roscommon’s St Dominics was fixed for Pairc Sean but heavy rains on Sunday morning rendered it unplayable. The game was switched to Cloone but after a pitch inspection by referee Christopher Ryan, the game was called off and fixed for next Saturday, again in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

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However, both clubs will have an anxious wait to see if Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada passes a pitch inspection to host next Saturday's game with the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence listed as the alternative venue in the official notification sent out by the Connacht Competitions Control Committee.

Leitrim GAA chairman Enda Stenson stressed the importance of laying a new all-weather surface in the county ground: “It is hugely disappointing for both clubs, hugely disappointing for the supporters but it totally reinforces the fact that we have got to get, asap, a proper surface on Pairc Sean. 

“That is a priority and that has to happen immediately after the championship next year, we cannot wait any longer. This is happening too often - last year our National League was blown into the wind in Bekan because we had no ground playable in Leitrim. 

“Now it has happened to Aughnasheelin, it has happened to other teams before - it is just so disappointing for the people involved, the players involved, their families, for everybody. Absolutely bitterly disappointed the game didn’t go ahead but the referee’s word is sacrosanct in a case like this. There was water lying on the field, Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada was totally unplayable this morning, no doubt about that.”

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Enda also said he understood the frustration of St Dominic’s players and supporters when the game was not played: “That’s not just for Aughnasheelin, that’s for Knockcroghery as well who have come a long journey today. They were disappointed and rightly so but I can understand why they didn’t want to travel any further today. It will be fixed for next weekend whatever the weather conditions and if grounds aren’t playable, it will be fixed for Bekan.”

Willie Donnellan's picture shows players and officials discussing the situation in Cloone before the AIB Connacht Intermediate Club Semi-Final between Aughnasheelin and St Dominic's was called off