Duhallow ref to run 19 pitches in 19-hour fundraising marathon
BOHERBUE referee John Hartnett is raring to go ahead of a revamped GAA playing season with a fundraising venture on this Saturday (July 11) in support of Marymount Hospice.
From midnight on Friday, the match official begins a hectic itinenary, the start of running at all 19 pitches across Duhallow. By doing so, John aims to collect vital funds by running/walking for 19 minutes at the 19 GAA grounds within Duhallow.
“I am collecting for Marymount Hospice as we all know the great work they do every day to care for people who are at different stages of illness and to know that these patients have the best care possible is a great comfort for families. “All our front-line staff are working under extreme stress and risk so I decided to help support them,” he said.
Apart from preparing for the fundraiser, Hartnett is also adjusting to new playing rules ahead of competitive action resuming next week. After sport ground to a halt four months ago as the Coronavirus pandemic sent the world into lock-down, the GAA community as a whole were starved of games.
“Conversation were dominated by questions of if and when any action could resume. It’s great for the return of the games, all clubs and referees are availing of the lead in time to adjust to the new rules,” said Hartnett.
The advanced mark experimented in football earlier in the season is passed into a permanent rule at Congress with an amendment as was the 10-minute sin bin for a cynical foul with all kick-outs being taken from the 20-metre line. Clubs should be made aware of a ban on a player who has received a kick-out passing the ball back to the goalkeeper,” he said.
Match officials will also be asked to complete the GAA’s Covid-19 eLearning module as well as completing a health questionnaire with inter county referee Conor Lane providing added information on rules to Duhallow whistlers.
“It will be challenging for everybody, the games in the lead up to restart have been beneficial and hopefully any issues will be ironed out pretty quickly,” say John Hartnett.
John is incorporating all nineteen clubs in the fundraiser, he welcomes support from onlookers and anyone wishing to complete the lap with him at appointed times.
The schedule is Glenlara at midnight, Rockchapel 1am, Newmarket 2am, Meelin 3am, Freemount 4am, Tullylease 5am, Lismire 6am, Kilbrin 7am, Castlemagner 8am, Kanturk 9am, Banteer 10am, Dromtariffe 11am, St. John’s 12 noon, Millstreet 1pm, Cullen 2pm, Knocknagree 3 pm, Ballydesmond 4pm, Kiskeam 5pm and finishing
Photo by Sheila Fitzgerald
in Boherbue at 6pm.
Patrons can support this fundraiser for Marymount by logging on to John’s online Go Fund Me account at Http://www.gofundme. com/f/dw9q5q