The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
‘We’ve a duty of care’
CBS players will miss school trip and lose money
THE third part of what is turning into an epic saga in the Corn Ui Mhuiri should come to an end in Ballyvourney on Saturday (1pm) as Tralee CBS and Colaiste Chriost Rí of Cork meet in a second replay to determine St Brendans College, Killarney’s opponents in the Munster final the following week.
However, the game is taking place against the wishes of both sides who have made representations to the Munster Post-Primary Schools governing body to have the game deferred by a week.
Speaking to The Kerryman on Tuesday, Tralee CBS mentor Mike Tim O’Sullivan outlined the reasons why both schools had an objection to the third game going ahead this Saturday.
“We both feel a break would have been needed because two weeks of 80 minute football at a high intensity is hard on both teams, especially when they are young players. We as a management have a duty of care to our players and feel that for player safety a break would have been essential to rest, recover and prevent fatigue and burnout from a busy football and academic schedule,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
There were also reasons outside of football why neither school wanted the game to go ahead.
“Both schools are also in the middle of Leaving Cert ‘mock’ examinations, which will hamper preparations. Both schools have players involved in skiing trips, which they now cannot attend and are losing out and that is also money down the drain. It is what it is now, however, and we’ll prepare best we can and drive on,” O’Sullivan said of Saturday’s return to Ballyvourney.
In response Mr. John Brennan, Schools Serving Officer with the Munster Post-Primary body, outlined the reasons why the second replay had to take place this weekend.
“We are under pressure for dates, not just with the schools programme but also the start of the County Minor Leagues in both Cork and Kerry, something which all the various fixture planners work on to try and avoid clashes as best as possible.
“In this particular instance it is far from ideal we agree but no one could have scripted it coming to this between the two sides. The conclusion of the Frewen Cup competition, which has both St Brendans and Tralee CBS still involved, means we have to finish the Corn Ui Mhuiri by its set final date of February 25 to allow the semi-final in the Frewen between Tralee CBS and Pobalscoil Chorcha Dhuibhne take place on February 28 with the final of that on March 6 against St Brendans.
“We felt we couldn’t move the Corn Ui Mhuiri Final back to the first weekend of March with the Frewen Final in mind,” Mr Brennan explained.
Next season’s Post-Primary competitions will see the knockout stages settled on the day as the motion passed at last year’s Congress allows for the use of ‘free-kick taking’ competitions to decide matches level after extra-time has been played in Third Level and Post-Primary knock-out matches from 2018 onwards.