An Rinn and The Nire call foul over hectic fixture schedule
The Nire manager Derek Lyons has spoken out over the fixture scheduling for his side as they have to play three games in eight days. Photo: Sean Byrne.
An Rinn and The Nire have voiced their frustration with the fixture congestion in the county senior football championship. Both clubs will play three group games in the space of eight days.
“I think it’s madness to be honest with you,” An Rinn selector Daithi Ó Tuathaigh remarked after Saturday’s win over Clashmore/Kinsalebeg. “These are amateur players. We have a match today, a match Wednesday and a match next Saturday. It’s just a bit much to ask but we have no choice, we have to play. The Nire are in the exact same situation so there’s no advantage or disadvantage to either team. But it is a bit unfair on players.”
An Rinn tackle The Nire on Wednesday and then finish their Group A schedule against Roanmore on Saturday.
“All you do now is try and tape lads back together again and see who’s hurt and see who’s alive! See what they have left to go again on Wednesday night. That’s all you can do; that’s the way it is.”
Nire manager Derek Lyons was also furious with the fixture pile-up following their victory against Roanmore. “If I was to tell you how I really feel, I don’t think you’d be able to put it out on air. We’re the only two teams out of the nine in that situation. It’s a totally lopsided tournament in that regard. We’re at a big disadvantage to call a spade, a spade.”
The 2023 runners-up will play their four group matches between September 14 and September 28. “What we’re told is that’s what the delegates agreed to at the end of January when they met with the county board. We can’t cry wolf in that regard. It’s hard to credit that you’re rushing a championship that quickly over a couple of weeks. Our four games are going to be played over fifteen days. The other group of four have the luxury of a week off in our last round on top of everything else.”
The Dungarvan man feels that clubs must rectify this matter at the structures meeting next year. “I could go on and on and everybody will be saying that I’m giving out. The message here for me to all of the clubs that are interested in football: send the right delegates to the meeting next January and make sure they know what they’re signing up to when they agree to the structure of the championship. We’ve no one to blame only the clubs ourselves. It’s disappointing but we just get on with it, we have to do it.”
