GAA guarantee no further deferral for ladies' All-Ireland finals

THE GAA yesterday moved to ensure there was no further disruption to the women’s All-Ireland football finals, which are now set for Croke Park on October 7th.

In the event of a draw in the men’s All-Ireland football final between Donegal and Mayo on Sunday week, the replay will take place on Saturday, October 6th.

The Ladies associations fear was that having had their September 30th date pushed back seven days after Sunday’s hurling final draw that something similar would happen again. After consultation with the Central Competitions Control Committee yesterday, this has been avoided but there is already consternation, with the Master fixture list not securing a fixed date for their showpiece event.

Six counties are involved in ladies finals day, with Cork and Kerry facing off in the senior match at 4pm, preceded by Armagh versus Wexford in the intermediate final and Antrim against Louth in the junior decider.

“It has been disruptive,” said Cork GAA ladies chairman Nelius Carroll. “Our county finals were down for October 7th. Fixtures in the county are upset big time.

“People would have made arrangements to get time off or come home from abroad for the games. Flights are booked. Now I don’t know what they are going to do.

“We did know this was the situation. The goal posts have been moved, we just have to move with them, I suppose.”

The counties involved have had to postpone travel arrangements. For example, Kerry had seven clubs travelling up for the pre-final Sevens tournament, which is also put back a week, and multiple club championship games need re-scheduling.

“We had a considerable amount of work done but we knew as soon as Joe Canning sent that late free over the bar that it would have to go back,” said Ladies GAA football president Pat Quill.

“We took the chance to ensure our finals were on the last Sunday in September, so it was played in the acknowledged GAA season.”

No tickets have been sold for the three finals but Quill was unable to calculate the financial cost caused by the postponement.

“It’s hard to say. Maybe some people who were unable to make the original date can now come for the new date. But there is no doubt that there is an inconvenience for some people.”

Will this spark a future situation where the ladies football final has a concrete date?

“To be fair to the GAA,” Quill continued, “we are the youngest member of the field sports section of the GAA.

“Like, camogie have had their final date set in stone for many years. It is something obviously we will sit down with the GAA and camogie to discuss.

“It was a chance we took to get our finals in September. It was just unfortunate.”

Revised fixtures

Sunday, October 7th

All-Ireland Junior Championship Final: Antrim v Louth, Croke Park, noon.

All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final: Armagh v Waterford, Croke Park, 2pm.

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-final: Cork v Kerry, Croke Park, 4pm.