Junior Soccer league hopeful games will be completed
THE Sligo, Leitrim and District Soccer League are confident that the junior soccer season will be completed as soon as they are given the green light to get football underway again.
All football, including training, is off at the minute due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the FAI are targeting June 19th as a resumption date for the League of Ireland.
Last week, the FAI extended the cessation of all football under its governance until April 19th at the very earliest.
2020 was already proving somewhat difficult for junior leagues around the country with bad weather and several weather warnings leading to the postponement of several weekends of fixtures, and disrupting the Connacht Cup.
Leagues cannot restart, and teams cannot return to training, until they are given the go ahead by the HSE and the FAI.
Noel Kennedy, Secretary of the Sligo Leitrim & District Soccer League, is confident that they will get the season completed.
“We’re being guided by the HSE, and the FAI in relation to when games will recommence,” he told The Sligo Champion.”
“Luckily we have no issues here. We’re in the semi-finals of our cups so there’s only a couple of rounds left and we could look at ways of completing the Super League and the Premier League very quickly with the help of the clubs.”
At the time that football had to come to a halt, Manorhamilton Rangers were leading the back on 37 points, just one point ahead of defending champions Carbury who have one game fewer played.
Manorhamilton have six games left to play, while Carbury have seven. It’s the tightest the Super League has been for some time.
In the Premier League, Real Tubber are top but they are just five points ahead of Ballymote Celtic, who have played three games fewer.
The local cups are well underway, and the conclusion of the league was almost in sight for some clubs.
Kennedy understands that there is more to life than football and that this pandemic is life or death for some.
He will consult with clubs about the continuation of the league when the time comes.
He said: “There will be consultation with all the clubs. I’m sure people would be delighted to get back playing football if and when it is safe to do so.
“Our top priority is the safety and welfare of our players and of course everyone else.”
It is the league’s aim to get the leagues and cups finished if it is possible to do so, and all clubs are happy to do so.
He added: “It’s week by week. We would have no issue completing the season in June or July. It wouldn’t be particularly difficult with the help of the clubs.
“There are clubs there like Real Tubber, Ballymote are flying on top of the Premier League, Coolaney are doing well in the cup. There are many clubs close to silverware. We have everything bought and paid for. They will be completed if that’s what they’d like.”
Kennedy says he would rather see everyone have a chance to stake their claim for silverware in the league, rather than handing out trophies to those who currently occupy top spot.
“It’s very important that everyone has equal opportunity. We would be delighted to see whoever wins it. Manorhamilton are going extremely well at the minute, they’re leading the Super League and it’s really tight with Carbury. It’s just fantastic. We’d like to be able to enjoy those in a safe environment. We would hope to complete the league and the cups absolutely.”
At the present time, there is no indication as to what happens with the Connacht Cup which again had been heavily disrupted due to the bad weather, with the early rounds barely completed.
“The Connacht Cup in fairness, we’re local, that will come from the FAI. When you see the League of Ireland back then we will be back.
“It’s all about common sense at the moment and staying safe and looking after ourselves.”
Across the water, all leagues below the National League have been cancelled.
“Should a similar instruction come from the FAI, Kennedy says they will accept that and get ready for next season.
“We will be guided by the HSE and the FAI and if they say that there’s no games then there’s no games.
“At all times the priority is the people who are involved.
“If nothing happens then we’ll just take the hit for that because what you want is everyone fit for next season.
“It is possible to complete it, with total agreement from everyone. If it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen.
“You’d like to do the best for all clubs, it’s important we do the best for our clubs.”
The last round of fixtures took place on March 8th, when clubs competed in the Glasshouse Hotel Cup and the Cleary Landscapes Cup.