BEATEN Antrim senior football finalists St Mary’s Aghagallon have told the county board they will potentially not be able to field a team for tomorrow night’s vital promotion/relegation play-off against All Saints due to their punishing championship schedule.
Citing concerns over the health and wellbeing of their senior squad after playing extra-time in both their championship semi-final and final games, Aghagallon have requested their play-off game to be moved to Friday week, insisting that there is nothing stopping the game being staged seven days later.
However, while expressing sympathy with the five-day turnaround, the Antrim CCC say the play-off will go ahead as scheduled tomorrow night, insisting that they don’t change fixtures unless both teams agree.
All Saints exited the intermediate championship to Con Magees Glenravel on September 11 and after finishing in the play-off position [second place] in Division Two they have had their sights set on this fixture in their bid to break into Antrim’s top flight.
Aghagallon needed extra-time to overcome Portglenone in their championship semi-final and were beaten in extra-time last Sunday by Cargin in a pulsating final.
It is understood Aghagallon officials have made the case for more rest time given the emotional and physical demands of Sunday’s final and then having to prepare for a game of huge importance five days later when there is perhaps room to put it back several days at least.
One Aghgallon player had to attend hospital with suspected concussion and a number of players suffered injury during Sunday’s clash.
Aghagallon don’t believe they would be able to give a fair account of themselves in tomorrow night’s play-off.
It is unlikely, however, that they won’t field as such a move would virtually guarantee their demotion to Division Two.
Meanwhile, 11 Cargin players have been nominated for the Devenish Antrim Allstars bash on Saturday November 5.
The Allstars scheme is now in its second year and recognises those in senior, intermediate and junior grade, with top scorer, Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year gongs up for grabs.
John McNabb, Justin Crozier, Kevin O'Boyle, Cahir Donnelly, James Laverty, Sean O'Neill, Gerard McCann, Paul McCann, Jamie Gribbin, Pat Shivers and Tomas McCann have all been nominated in a public vote [log on to devenishallstars.com] that will close on Sunday at 10pm.
Aghagallon are also well represented on the nominations list with Eunan Walsh, Adam Loughran, Jack Lenehan, Jamie Lamont, Gareth Magee and Ruairi McCann producing eye-catching displays.
Junior and intermediate champions Pearse's, Belfast and Dunloy, respectively have been well represented in the nominations.
