LEAGUE IS BEING COMPROMISED, ARGUES O’BRIEN

NOT playing games that are no longer relevant to promotion or relegation damages the integrity of the Allianz football League, according to Turlough O’Brien, manager of newly-promoted Carlow.

Games postponed due to the bad weather will not be played unless they have a meaningful impact on the tables.

“That compromises the League in my view. I know games had to be postponed due to the bad weather but they should all be played. It’s showing a lack of respect for the League, which is a great competition,” said O’Brien, who has steered Carlow out of the Division 4 for the first time since 1985.

O’Brien was unhappy a few weeks ago when Laois v Antrim was put back to the last weekend in March as, by then, one of them might have been promoted, impacting on Carlow, who are due to complete their group games this weekend.

As it happened,

Carlow beat Antrim last Sunday, thus securing promotion so the schedule is no longer an issue for them.

“That’s not the point,” said O’Brien. “This is about the integrity of the League. All the last-round games should be played together, which is always done in League competitions.

“I know the bad weather caused problems but every county should still be in the same position. And that includes not calling off games that don’t effect promotion or relegation,” he added. Despite being promoted, Carlow will field a strong team against Laois next Sunday. Laois and Antrim are still battling it out for the second promotion slot and O’Brien believes that he owes it to the League to put out the best possible 15.

“We have some injury concerns, so we’ll have to see how those lads are but we’ll be fielding a strong team,” said O’Brien (pictured). Wexford (Division 4) and Kildare (Division 2) took a different approach after securing promotion ahead of the final rounds last year, fielding weaker teams which were beaten. Neither has won a League game this year and will be relegated.

MARTIN BREHENY