“It’s an absolute disgrace that we had to wait until January 7th to play the final considering we played the semi final on August 30.”
But that’s the story in South Tipperary and there’s nothing Clonmel Commercials or Moyle Rovers can do about it.
The two sides finally contested the 2017 South Tipperary Senior football final in Clonmel on Sunday, January 7, 2018.
Not that they were given any advanced notice about it or anything. Having not trained over the festive period, obviously, they were told on Wednesday that the decider would take place on Sunday.
Four days notice. Four days notice before a final. A final that these clubs train all year for. That these players dream about winning.
“Club players haven’t trained in over two months and we got 4 days notice that the match was on this weekend. Players welfare is not considered whatsoever,” said a Clonmel Commercials player to SportsJOE.
It looked as if the game wouldn’t go ahead at all, when a frozen pitch was inspected before the scheduled 1.00 throw-in. It eventually got the go ahead, and the game began at 1.40.
The players from both sides were in limbo before the game, unsure whether they’d be togging in after their warm-ups, or facing a game in five minutes time.
“Then today the morning of the match the pitch was frozen, we had to wait until 5 minutes before the match for a pitch inspection. The two teams had to wait outside the dressing room for an hour not knowing what was happening,” they continued.
It was no surprise, given the bitter and poor conditions that it was a dour, low scoring affair at the Clonmel Sportsfield.
South Tipp Senior football final: Drama galore, great credit to @moylerovers and @CommercialsGAA 0-8 a piece AET. Liam Boland and Jack Kennedy the heroes.A Keenly contested final, no Quinilivan or Kennedy for Comm, Luke Boland or R Mulcahy for Moyle. Beidh La Eile #GAA #Football pic.twitter.com/YUTN4A2kuz
— Stephen Gleeson (@StephenGleeson_) January 7, 2018
Nothing separated the sides at full-time, with Charlie McGeever and Niall Fitzgerald’s sides tied at 6 points apiece after 60 minutes of action.
So, on they went to extra-time in the harsh conditions in South Tipperary, and even the extra 20 minutes saw neither side kick on to take the victory.
They were deadlocked at 0-8 0-8 at the finish, and will now face into a replay, some time in the new year.
And they put it up with this because they’re powerless. They love the GAA, they love playing the game. They put in a huge effort into that final today for their jersey, for the spirit of it all. It’s just so sickening that they are continually being taken advantage of.
“It makes a mockery of the whole competition and of Tipperary football,” added the player.
That’s a bitter pill to swallow for the teams involved, for the supporters involved, for this competition.
Both Charlie McGeever @CommercialsGAA & Niall Fitzgerald @moylerovers very disappointed their teams had to play the South final this time of year. No off season for players who played full match & extra time with just 4 days notice. Makes little of a South Senior Div final #gaa
— Stephen Gleeson (@StephenGleeson_) January 7, 2018
Because the South Tipperary Football Championship is no dead rubber. It’s a competition with a rich history, and one that every football team in South Tipperary goes into with the intention of winning at the start of the year.
And in South Tipperary, gaelic football is the religion. Traditionally, the clubs to the south of the county are the best of the Premier crop. Take Clonmel Commercials, take Fethard, Moyle Rovers, Ardfinnan and so on.
They have a close rivalry and this championship is of great importance to them. It’s so depressing that these players, these clubs are being degraded to the extent that they’re playing senior finals in January.
“I think the south board have made it a nothing competition. There’s a time of year when club players have to have a break. That just tells us where Tipp football is at, in terms of its importance and how players are treated,” said the Clonmel manager to Tipp FM.
Managers unhappy with timing of South Senior final https://t.co/m62E5LtrqK pic.twitter.com/klPjzaXpOn
— Tipp FM Sport (@TippFMSport) January 7, 2018
So you’re probably asking why it was put back, back and back, and is still being put back.
As the Commercials won the 2017 county final this year against Killenuale, they advanced to the Munster stages of that competition. They were knocked out of that in October. Then a combination of exams and holidays put paid to the notion of the game going ahead within the calendar year.
The replay won’t take place until after Tipperary are finished their Allianz National League campaign. That will be in April. That will be 8 months after the semi-final.
That’s not on and it shouldn’t be that way. But that’s how it is.
On the same day that GAA supporters travelled to support their county teams in Castlebar and in Clones, only to have the games called off after the scheduled throw-in time.
These same were sat in the stand when the games were called off. They got no refunds for their tickets.
What happened in Castlebar is the worst https://t.co/9fheU5tuk3
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) January 7, 2018
The GAA aren’t doing themselves any favours.
