The Galway county hurling final has been called off this Sunday due to the fact that Mullagh GAA club are possibly going to appeal to the DRA about their game with Loughrea being fixed at a fixtures committee when the man that chaired that meeting was suspended at the time the fixture was made.
They lost their county semi-final to Loughrea by a point and as we all know there were some sickening scenes after the game with supporters and some players keen to have a cut off the referee.
That kind of outrageous behaviour from any supporters or players to officials is completely and utterly unacceptable in this day and age. It must be stamped out and we all have a role to play in doing so.
Even leaving that appalling behaviour to one side, it is sad to see the culture of appealing against everything being so very strong in the GAA. Have we lost track of what we are about as participants and as clubs?
Where is the sense of fairness and doing things for the greater good?
Cynicism, nastiness and meanness are quite regular at many games now, both on the field of play and sometimes, unfortunately in the stands too.
It is very sad to see such petty behaviour carry on after the game is over.
For clubs or individuals to appeal when they have been beaten on the field of play is poor form. Mullagh were beaten. That’s the end of that.
To be holding the county final to ransom and keeping Portumna and Loughrea in limbo to further their own cause does them no credit.
Fold up the tents lads, and move on.
Injuries a big worry for Corofin ahead of Sunday’s Connacht semi-final clash
Corofin are the current Connacht club football champions and they are very much aware of the threat posed to their crown by Glencar-Manorhamilton from Leitrim in this Sunday’s Connacht club semi-final at Tuam Stadium at 2pm.
If Corofin had a full team to select from the mood would be much more optimistic as regards their chances of reaching the Connacht final against either Castlerea or Charlestown.
Those sides also play in the other semi-final this Sunday in Dr Hyde Park.
A badly pulled hamstring to regular full-back and Galway senior Kieran Fitzgerald sees him ruled out of this weekend’s clash.
Also still out of contention for selection with an ankle injury is the side’s normal free-taker and experienced corner forward Alan O’Donovan. His absence is compounded by injuries to the likes of David Hanley and Joe Canney.
Few clubs can afford to be without three or four of their starting XV and expect to win with any degree of comfort and Corofin are no exception.
The side’s captain, Kieran Comer is under no illusion about the tough task they face this Sunday in trying to reach another provincial final.
“We are expecting a real dog-fight on Sunday. It will be real winter football and there will probably be only a point or two in it either way. Glencar-Manorhamilton are an experienced team. They played in the Connacht championship last year too, so this is nothing new to them. They had a good win in the Leitrim championship scoring 0-14 in the final and we will need to be very alert all over the field if we are to advance.”
When questioned about his team’s on-going injury problems, Comer, is philosophical.
“Everyone is a loss. But you just have to get on with it. We have a good panel and when guys are unavailable it presents opportunities for other players on the panel. We just need everyone working as hard as possible for the cause on Sunday and if we have a bit of luck, we might sneak into the final. The fact that the game is at home is a big advantage.”
It should be a very close game, especially with the weather conditions as they have been all week; however the big game experience of the likes of Damien and Alan Burke, Gary Sice, Greg Higgins, Kieran McGrath and Kieran Comer should see the Galway men advance.
Calling a winner between Castlerea or Charlestown is difficult. The temptation is to go for the Mayo champions; however they did not impress in their victory over Knockmore and perhaps the experience gained by Castlerea in 2008 will be to their advantage.
