Likelihood of any championships shrouded in doubt

ITH DOOMSDAY looming for the All-Ireland hurling and football championships, there is still quite a deal of speculation as to whether we will have a 2020 campaign at inter-county or club level.

During its long history since its foundation, the G.A.A. has come through many difficult periods, but this year is unprecedented since it could impact, not just on inter-county games but also club championships.

Since the foundation of the Association back in 1884, only eight All-Ireland finals were unfinished, five in football and three in hurling.

1888: The first-ever visit of Ireland’s team of athletes and hurlers to America (the American Invasion) meant the cancellation of both championships that year.

For the record, Tipperary (Moycarkey, hurling, and Bohercrowe, football) and Kilkenny (Mooncoin, hurling, and Kilmacow, football), who had defeated Wexford in the Leinster final, were the last left in both codes when the abandonment was announced.

1890: Referee John Sheehy from Limerick gave Aghabullogue (Cork) permission to leave the field owing to rough play, with Wexford’s Blue and Whites leading by 2-2 to 1-6 in the football final (goals were worth more than any amount of points at the time). The Central Council later awarded the match and championship to Cork.

1892: In Senior hurling (played in 1893), Davitt’s (Dublin) left the field, objecting to the awarding of a goal to Redmond’s (Cork), who were later declared All-Ireland champions.

1893: In this football final played in 1894 between the same counties, Wexford’s Young Ireland’s complained to the referee that one of their players knocked down had been kicked while on the ground.

The referee sent off both players concerned, but Dromtariffe of Cork left the field. This time the council awarded the match and championship (their first-ever) to Wexford.

1894: On this occasion (played in 1895), Dublin and Cork ended in a draw (0-6 each), and the replay was fixed for Thurles with the same referee (R.C. Blake).

With the score at 1-2 to 0-5 in the Munster men’s favour (still with a goal worth more than any amount of points), the pitch was invaded, and Dublin refused to continue.

A second replay was ordered later, when Cork refused to play, and the Central Council awarded the All-Ireland medals to the Cork players.

1910: John Mitchel’s (Tralee), who had beaten Louth Tredaghs by 1-9 to 0-6 in the previous year’s football final, refused to travel to meet Louth’s representatives, owing to a dispute with the Great Southern Railways over transport facilities, or lack of them, for followers.

1911: After the postponement, on account of heavy rain in Cork, the Kilkenny-Limerick Senior hurling final re-fixture was fixed for Thurles, but the Shannonsiders refused to play at any venue except the original one.

Munster Council nominated Tipperary (already beaten) to represent the province. Kilkenny defeated them at Dungarvan to earn the All-Ireland title.

1925: In the All-Ireland football semi-finals, Kerry defeated Cavan by 1-7 to 2-3, while Mayo, nominated by the Connacht Council, defeated Wexford by 2-4 to 1-4, and then lost the Connacht final to Galway, who were duly declared champions. Kerry and Cavan were declared illegal.

Starting the inter-county championships will come in for much debate and speculation over the coming weeks. So much has been mooted already, then ruled out, with time frames being extended.

Much will depend on the extent of the announcements later this week regarding the potential lifting of restrictions, however meagre, but it still looks as if competitive sports will be left very much on the back burner.

At a teleconference of all County Board Chairpersons and Secretaries on Tuesday, it was indicated that in the event of a compressed playing season in the autumn, the provincial and All-Ireland Club championships would be the first competitions to be sacrificed.

It had been suggested that the All-Ireland Club finals revert to their previous slot on St. Patrick’s Day to create more time in the schedule, but that possibility appears remote. In the event that permission is granted to resume activity later in the year, club championships will be given priority.