Swad keep champagne on ice as wait goes on
by Paul Fitzpatrick Updated: Wednesday, 1st December, 2010 9:30am
The scene at Kingspan Breffni Park yesterday (Tuesday). The Ulster Club IFC final between Lisnaskea and Doonhamlet fixed for the Park last Sunday was postponed and has been re-fixed again this week, as has Swad’s Ulster JFC final against Corduff.
Welcome to the waiting game. After tearing emphatically through the county and Ulster campaign like a team very much in a hurry to go places, barely taking a second to look behind them, Swanlinbar St Mary’s ironically find themselves in the frustrating position of sitting tight and waiting to see what the weather throws up.
Their preparations for the Ulster Club Junior Football Championship final may have been disrupted by the unseasonally harsh cold snap but the Cavan champions are not taking their eye off the prize just yet.
Their final against Monaghan champions Corduff, originally scheduled for last Sunday in Clones, was postponed due to the heavy snowfall and has been re-fixed for the same venue this Sunday (throw-in, 12.15pm), throwing their best laid plans into, if not disarray, then at best, severe disruption.
“We are hoping to train on the 3G pitch tomorrow night (Wednesday),” stated club chairman Gregory McGovern yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).
“We didn’t train on Sunday and we were supposed to be training tonight but we have rang the county board to see can we get the 3G, and we’re hoping that it will be playable.”
While Swad’s plans have been knocked off kilter, the one consolation is that opponents Corduff are in the same boat, said McGovern.
“It’s a major disruption to all of us to be fair, Corduff, Crossmaglen and Glenties are facing the same problem.
“It’s due to be played on Sunday anyway. The weather is supposed to get a wee bit better on Friday but it’s all up in the air at the minute.”
It has been a long, busy season for Swanlinbar, spanning almost 12 months and while the excitement of a provincial final always whets the appetite, there is a danger of delays and postponements taking their toll.
Sunday’s final marks the ninth championship match of the season which, coming on the back of a hectic league schedule, could eventually catch up on even the best-prepared of sides.
“We want to get it out of the way,” said McGovern, “the lads have been training since last January.
“We were really looking forward to it last Sunday and it was very disappointing, it was a real damp squib when the word came through on Saturday.
“It’s new territory for us, and we’re all set to try our best to win it. We have the greatest respect for Corduff. Monaghan clubs have won this competition for the past three years and they will be looking to keep that record going. We’re going out to do Swanlinbar justice and to do Cavan justice.”
With a clean bill of health to report, Swanlinbar are primed and ready to deliver what would only be Cavan’s second official provincial club title at any level.
“It’s the hands of the man above whether or not it goes ahead now,” surmised the chairman.
You can’t say much more than that.
Post a Comment