Fans caught out by late change of times

THERE HAS been a recurring theme this year in particular, whereby venues and times for G.A.A. fixtures are routinely changed towards the end of the week after the publication of this newspaper.

In some cases these alterations are unavoidable, such as when a pitch is rendered out of bounds due to bad weather.

On other occasions, though, one has to wonder why the C.C.C.C. cannot simply get a basic task right in the first place.

One case in point arose for the Pettitt’s Senior hurling double-header in Innovate Wexford Park on Saturday.

The official fixtures list had starting times of 4 and 5.30 p.m. respectively, and that’s what appeared in our edition last Tuesday.

However, the decision was then taken, at a much later stage, to alter the times to 3.30 and 5 p.m., and a lot of disgruntled supporters were caught out as a result for the first game in particular, with many arriving close to half-time.

We can only presume that the C.C.C.C. feared extra-time in either or both of the games, and were anxious to ensure that they would have enough daylight if that eventuality came to pass.

Why did it take them until midweek to consider that, though? It’s hardly rocket science after all.

On another topic, what sort of messing was behind the farcical scenes on Sunday morning when teams and officials turned up for a Junior ‘B’ hurling quarter-final in Fr. Murphy Park, Enniscorthy, only to find that the Shamrocks club weren’t aware that they were hosting the match?

It meant that Liam Mellows and Geraldine O’Hanrahans were ferried out the road to Ferns where the game finally went ahead well behind schedule.

Hopefully the respective club Secretaries will be receiving a written apology for this shaby treatment during the week, as it’s the least they deserve.