Mother Nature makes a fool of GAA supporters

THERE we were, all geared up to see how the new rules would pan out in the opening round of the Allianz National Football League.

And for the hurling supporters it was going to be a chance to see how the hurlers were getting on under new manager Tommy Fitzgerald.

Mind it was never going to be easy given that the footballers were heading north west to Ballinamore to take on Leinster and the hurlers were also on he road, not quite as distant, to Mullingar were they should have been playing Westmeath, both games scheduled for Saturday.

Unfortunately Storm Éowyn had no intention of playing ball, if you’ll excuse the pun. We knew Friday was going to be something else but never realized just how disruptive things would be.

Saturday morning dawned, those who had electricity had the water boiled and the flasks filled and the sandwiches made when news came through, shortly after 9am, that the game in Ballinamere was postponed. Storm Éowyn ensured there was no electricity at the venue, but thanks fully the game was refixed for Sunday. No too bad really.

Maybe we might head to Mullingar instead to see the hurlers. No such luck. Ten minutes later or so the news broke that the Cusack Park pitch was frozen. And that game could not be pout back 24 hours as the Westmeath footballers were in action there on Sunday afternoon.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse, more breaking news at 6pm. This time it was to let us know that the football game was deferred indefinitely “due to continued electrical issues caused by Storm Éowyn”.

There was nothing for it but to buckle down, stay in doors and stay warm, and wait of the ladies footballers who were due to play Carlow in their opening national league game. And thankfully that game was scheduled for just down the road in the LOETB Centre of Excellence.

However early Sunday morning the pitches there were deemed unplayable but the game was refixed for Annanough. Not so bad, or was it?

With teams and supporters having made their way to Vicarstown there was to be more disappointment and frustration. Ten minutes before the 2pm throw-in the referee, Anthony Campbell, declared that the pitch was not playable and the game was called off.

So whatever about the headache by the games’ administrators, Laois upports will just as many headaches.