There is an important three points at stake at Munster FA Turner’s Cross tomorrow night. But regardless of the outcome, which will matter even more after a turbulent couple of weeks, the game will be remembered as another symbol of the dysfunction in Irish football.
On a deeper level, no winners have emerged from this mess, only losers. The children that have been flocking to Eamonn Deacy Park in increasing numbers lose one of their 18 nights a year to see their heroes. When they aren’t the priority, something has gone wrong somewhere.
The apportionment of blame seems clear to many, but not all, in Galway. Deep down, however clear they might be on their processes, the FAI will know that they have left themselves open to accusations of bias, unconscious or otherwise, after facilitating the schedule changes of other clubs this season. If they don’t see that, the problems are probably worse than most imagine.
Dundalk acted within the rules and their own interests but have faced some questions after refusing to swap or move the fixture. They can and will feel validation for protecting their centenary celebration. However, it has been noted that they received a fixture swap themselves earlier in the season from Derry after damage to their pitch.
Most accounts suggest that Galway United tried valiantly to find a workable solution. Some will blame them for not having a solution agreed in advance. However, this is a dilemma that was being worked on for weeks. Most options offered appeared workable. Swapping of venues, changing of dates and even the last straw of postponement were all favourable outcomes for the image and culture of Irish football, ignoring factional interests.
Ultimately, United failed and they will need to take their slice of ownership for the outcome. Their decision to choose Cork over Athlone is their most questioned and would have been a difficult decision. It is not universally popular in Galway. They probably figured once the game was being moved outside of the county, why would they hand uncooperative opponents an advantage.
Whatever, the wrongs or rights, it is a galling outcome. The fans, the costs and the mudslinging have dominated the commentary. One thing absent has been any nod to sustainability. Clubs like Bohemians are leading the way in this space. It should annoy these fans around the league that tomorrow their fellow fans will feel an obligation to add thousands of unnecessary, accumulated miles to the carbon footprint of the league.
The online sentiments are unsympathetic to all, with United, Dundalk and the FAI all shipping fierce criticism.
In the maelstrom, all that really matters is that this is an outcome that should not be satisfactory to anyone, and as such should have never been permitted. It hints at worst at an unfairness or at best problematic processes.
It is difficult to preview a game of football. But the fire in John Caulfield’s voice this week suggests that it is not one to be missed. Whatever happens it will go down in history for all the wrong reasons.
