Earlier start to season on cards: NIFL
TOP sprinter Amy Foster last night spoke of her devastation and heartbreak at being surprisingly omitted from Northern Ireland’s 88-strong team for the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast in April.
The exclusion of Lisburn-based Amy and Newcastle athlete Kerry O’Flaherty, despite both making the Games qualification standard, overshadowed yesterday’s team announcement.
Both have reason to feel aggrieved, Foster (29) in particular as the top sprinter in Ireland for many years. This is the first time qualified athletes have not been selected to represent Northern Ire- land for the Games with Athletics NI insisting they pushed hard for their inclusion.
But the Northern Ireland Games Council rulers, who finalise the team, decided against their selection, leaving Foster to protest: “I did everything that was asked of me, everything and more. Yet I was not deemed good enough for a place on the Northern Ireland team. I am devastated and heartbroken and feel unbelievably let down.
“I achieved the standard asked of me three times, in three different countries. Importantly, one of those was Australia, showing I can compete in the country and at the time of the year the Games take place.”
DANSKE BANK PREMIERSHIP NORTHERN Ireland Football League chief Andrew Johnston has admitted that Premiership clubs may decide to start next season earlier to minimise the risk of fixture congestion sparked by hostile weather conditions.
Clubs are now faced with a backlog of fixtures after snow, ice and heavy winds disrupted the programme.
On December 9, four games were called off due to snow, and a further two matches failed to beat the cold weather on New Year’s Day.
Then, Storm Eleanor forced Tuesday night’s three Premiership matches to be abandoned.
The Glentoran v Warrenpoint and Cliftonville v Ballymena United games were halted at half-time, and they were soon followed by Ards v Glenavon.
Johnston admitted: “There is a review of the schedule every year but, after recent events, the clubs may go for a different approach and start the season earlier.”
There will be a conference call today involving the Premiership Management Committee and it’s expected that the postponed games will be replayed in full.