Walkovers lead to county final farce

WE TRIED to make a case to have the Under-20 football Roinn 1B championship extended to cater for more teams in this column recently. However, after the events of the last two weekends, we have formed the completely opposite opinion. It’s turned into a farce at this stage, and really should be dispensed with.

St. Patrick’s will now play St. Joseph’s in the final, but the circumstances are utterly bizarre.

Six teams were eligible, with a draw made for two quarter-finals, while two more teams received byes to the semi-finals.

The Ballyoughter men got a walkover from St. Mary’s (Maudlintown) in a game scheduled for November 23.

Then, eight days later, there was a similar outcome to the other quarter-final when RéaltnaMara informed Rathgarogue-Cushinstown that they wouldn’t be fielding in a game fixed for 24 hours after two of their players – Aaron Hall and Killian Doyle – started the Leinster Junior hurling final for Ballygarrett.

That left four teams and semi-final pairings, but there was no action last weekend either.

Monageer-Boolavogue didn’t line out at home on Saturday, giving St. Joseph’s a bloodless passage into the decider.

And the prospect of playing St. Patrick’s just 24 hours after the Leinster Junior football final didn’t appeal to Rathgarogue-Cushinstown, who would have had one player – Eoin Porter – in action on the double.

Trying to complete the Under-20 football programme is proving a nightmare, especially with the involvement of players with the county Seniors in the O’Byrne Cup, and the combined schools in the Leinster hurling championship.

Hopefully we will get a game, at least, in the Roinn 1B final and, regardless of the circumstances, a county title would be a nice boost for either St. Joseph’s or St. Patrick’s at this level.