Rosemount fan hits out at fixtures clash with hurling final
A local GAA supporter has blasted the Westmeath County Board over the timing of Rosemount’s intermediate championship quarter-final which clashes with the All-Ireland hurling final.
The Rosemount supporter is furious that his club’s game against Shandonagh means players and supporters will not be able to attend the hurling final, or watch it in its entirety on TV in the comfort of their homes.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous. Surely players and supporters should be given the chance to go to the All-Ireland finals in hurling and football – if they can get a ticket – or at least have the chance to watch the game on television,” the supporter told the Westmeath Independent.
Rosemount face Shandonagh on Sunday at Cusack Park in Mullingar at 5.15, with Moate All Whites and Tubberclair meeting in the second part of the double header at 6.45. The All-Ireland final between Galway and Kilkenny throws in at 3.30pm.
Managed by Anthony Cunningham – who works and lives in the Athlone area – Galway will be bidding to win their first All-Ireland senior title since 1988 when they face the defending champions. Galway are also in the All-Ireland minor hurling final, in which they face Tipperary at 1.15pm.
“Players certainly won’t be able to see the hurling game and for supporters the only option will be to go to a pub in Mullingar to watch the hurling. You’d have to leave Rosemount at half four or shortly after it and the hurling match won’t be over till around 5 o’clock. It’s very unfair on club players and on supporters who are paying into games all year,” the supporter said.
“It’s crazy. And if there is a draw in either of the games on Sunday evening, the replay will be played next Wednesday evening and the semi-final the following weekend.
“It makes you wonder what are the fixtures committee thinking. Also, there have been midweek games fixed for 6 o’clock which puts players under pressure to rush back from work.
“This is the second year in a row that an intermediate championship match clashed with the All-Ireland hurling final. Last year, some people missed one of the best hurling matches ever as a result,” continued the supporter, who stressed he was speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of his club.
Last year, Rosemount played Milltownpass in the intermediate championship quarter-finals – a match which was fixed to start at 5pm. On the same day, Kilkenny and Tipperary met in one of the most thrilling All-Ireland finals of all time which ended in a draw, with Kilkenny winning the replay.
“I checked last year and a number of counties had no club championship fixtures on the day of the All-Ireland final. Counties such as Laois, Longford, Kerry, Cavan and Mayo had no games scheduled for that time,” added the supporter.
Interestingly, the Westmeath County Board changed the SFC quarter-finals in order to avoid a clash with the All-Ireland football semi-final replay between Mayo and Dublin. Castledaly’s meeting with Killucan will now commence at 1pm on Saturday, with the St Loman’s Mullingar v Coralstown/Kinnegad clash to follow at 2.30. The games had originally been fixed for the evening but the Westmeath CCC opted to bring them forward after the Mayo v Dublin rematch was fixed for 5pm.