Steelstown Brian Ógs Ladies left 'devastated' as forfeit fears arise amid Ulster semi-final fixture 'shambles'

The Brian Og's Ladies team were left 'devastated' when forced to turn around the team bus on its way to Cavan after learning their Ulster Intermediate semi-final had been switched at the final hour.

The LGFA had earlier ignored concerns from the Derry champions about player welfare and scheduled their semi-final clash against Castlerahan/Denn for Wednesday night - just 72 hours after Sunday's quarter-final victory in Ballyshannon.

Despite weather warnings being in place for high winds and rain on Wednesday, Steelstown made preparations to travel the five hours plus return journey to fulfil the fixture only to be informed by email FOUR hours before the 7.30pm throw-in that the match was to be switched from the grass pitch at Mullagh to Breffni Park's 3G surface.

Most of the Steelstown Ladies team had the wrong footwear to play on the artificial surface but when the club informed the Ulster Council, they were warned if they failed to fulfil the fixture the match would be forfeited.

Steelstown chairman, Mr O'Hea described the situation as 'shambolic' and criticised the LGFA for their handling of the fixture, stating the club's failure to field a team on Wednesday night was a decision taken 'out of our hands'.

"It's an absolute shambles," fumed the Steelstown chairman. "Our players begged and got time off work, got babysitters arranged, people flew back from England and yet they're on the way up the road when we receive an email to say the match has been switched to a 3G pitch at Breffni Park.

"As far as we were concerned Breffni Park was a back-up but there was never any email to tell us the back-up procedures or tell us the time the pitch inspections would take place, nothing in writing," he stressed.

"So it changed to a 3G pitch and all the girls have metal stud boots for grass pitches. You can't play with those on a 3G pitch! We received an email, not even a phone call, but an email at 3.30 pm!

"Our secretary saw it 10 minutes later and sent word. They were away with the wrong footwear. We told them we can't play on a 3G without 'mouldies'. Pitches up and down the country have signs to say you can't wear blades or studs because it's not safe. I'm sure that's for legal reasons and insurance reasons and all the rest. There's a massive high risk of injury.

"Nothing was emailed to say Breffni Park was the back up pitch and our girls were already away. A few of them wouldn't have been too keen to play on a 3G pitch anyway because some of them did their ACL last year. The rest of them, you simply can't play on it if you don't have the right footwear. The risk of wrecking your knee or ankle is far higher. You can't do it!"

O'Hea claimed the Ulster Council had offered to put the match back half an hour to allow them time to supply the correct footwear for the players but the Steelstown chairman explained that suggestion was simply out of the question.

"It's absolutely crazy that they wanted it to go ahead. They actually told us that if they put the match back until 8pm. we could have time to gather up the right boots. There was girls left from Belfast, girls came from the airport and girls left from Derry, did they expect us to run around and gather up 'mouldies' so we could play the match? Get real!

"We told them there would be no match and I was told, as far as they were concerned the match would go ahead at 7.30p.m on the 3G pitch at Breffni. I was told if we turn the bus around we forfeit the match.

"The referee said no metal studs were allowed so we turned the bus around. There was no point in driving the rest of the way to Cavan for the referee to tell us most of the team couldn't play because they only had metal studs," he added incredulously.

"Not one bit of this has been our girls' fault and this is how they've been treated. It's not our doing and it's out of our control so if they make us forfeit the game it's an absolute joke.

"The girls got time off work, arranged everything to drive down to Cavan and halfway down the road they have to turn around and come home. It's devastating and so frustrating. Considering they've been playing so well too.

"The girls are devastated and angry at the way they've been treated. They've tried their best to train and prepare to get there. It must be so distracting when you're preparing for a semi-final and it's devastating for them.

"This is the governing body. This is a prestige tournament and it's a privilege to represent Derry and try and win the Ulster Championship.

"They were close last year and nearly got to it and it's been their aim all year if they could get out of Derry to get back there this year and it just seems they have all these obstacles in their way and none of it is their fault.

"The authorities have the ability to do something about this and schedule the games properly. It's crazy. You could tell on Monday that there was a weather warning for Wednesday. There was a high chance there would be some sort of problems with the pitch. They had the opportunity to change it to Sunday. It's fair for everybody and best for the welfare of the players but I can't understand why they didn't."

Mr O'Hea remains hopeful Ulster Ladies 'make the right decision' and reschedule the match.

"I really hope they do the right thing and fix this match again for Sunday. We'll see. The final could be put back a week and played with the senior final a week later.

"I think if the Ulster Council take stock of the way they've handled things so far, I'm hoping they will realise they have an opportunity to do this properly and make the right decision and re-fix the match for Sunday.

"Our girls have done nothing wrong here. Communication and decision making of the Ulster Ladies has been at fault. It's not easy fixing calendars but there's ways to do it and I hope they take the opportunity now to do it. I really hope they do but we'll see if they do that or not."