Steelstown ladies GAA club has asked the Ulster council to 'do the right thing' and fix their Intermediate football provincial semi-final for this Sunday. It follows a shambolic episode where the squad and management set out for the fixture today, only to turn back home an hour later.
The Derry champions beat Ballyshannon of Donegal in the Ulster quarter-final on Sunday - a game that was also rescheduled after the original game was called off two minutes before throw-in due to a waterlogged pitch - and were asked to travel to face Cavan champions Castlerahan-Denn in the semi-final on Wednesday night.
The Derry city club were furious about having to make the four-hour round trip to south Cavan midweek but their appeals to the Ulster Ladies Gaelic Football Association fell on deaf ears after 'consideration' and the game was scheduled to go ahead - until the 11th hour.
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Steelstown ladies chairman Paul O'Hea takes up the story. "We have players at college in England, one girl working in Coventry, some at college in Belfast. So they pulled in favours and babysitters and whatnot.
"They gathered around 3pm and were on the road for 3.30pm. With the weather warning they wanted to be on the way good and early.
"We had been told last night that the game was going ahead and that Breffni Park would be the back-up option. We never had that in writing though. A 3G pitch was never mentioned. We thought it was the grass pitch there.
"It was only when we were on the road down that our fixtures secretary got an email to say the fixture had been moved to the 3G pitch in Cavan at Breffni Park.
"At this time of year the pitches are all heavy and everyone had boots with metal studs. This was the first we knew that a 3G pitch would even be an option. We didn't even get a phone call about moving the game, just an email.
"You cannot play on 3G pitches with metal studs. It. is dangerous and increases the risk of injury. There are signs up at every 3G ground to say that.
"I then contacted the Ulster council myself," explained O'Hea, a pharmacist who was back home at work with no staff available to cover him for the day.
"I told them they had to get a grass pitch but they said that was not possible. I then rang Breffni Park and asked them if it was safe to play on the 3G in metal studs and they weren't sure.
"Rónán McCarthy from the Ulster council then contacted us to say the referee confirmed that we were not allowed to play in metal studs on the 3G pitch.
"When I explained that everyone had the wrong boots and we would just turn the bus around then he said that would mean we would forfeit the game."
With the Ulster final fixed for this Sunday, the provincial council were pushing to get the fixtures completed but O'Hea insists the decider could be knocked back a week and allow for the competition to be completed with integrity and without Steelstown being penalised or thrown out.
"I would really hope that is not the case. The Ulster council should do the right thing and fix the semi-final for this weekend," said the former Derry player. "That's the scenario we requested.
"We knew there was a weather warning with this game midweek. At amateur level any midweek game presents challenges, especially one so far away.
"We are not asking for special treatment here, just for them to do the right thing. To give us fairness and the competition proper integrity.
"None of this is on the girls themselves. They have done everything asked of them and went above and beyond to be there for the games. It's a player welfare issue, having to play maybe three games in a week and then one on 3G pitch when we weren't told.
O'Hea continued: "I cannot understand why they are intent on pressing on and squashing the games in.
"We are very disappointed with how the whole thing has transpired.
"From day one, this fixture has been a shambles."
The Ulster LGFA has been approached for comment.
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