This is not science, just a harsh fact

IN THE wipe-out of this weekend’s 33-game Allianz League programme, a 34th postponed game went a little under the radar.

The O’Byrne Cup final between Meath and Westmeath had been due to be played next weekend after it had already been subjected to two weather-related postponements.

It was originally set to take place on January 21, but the plug was pulled on it because of a water-logged pitch at O’Moore Park.

That saw it rescheduled for Mullingar on February 18th – the first of two free weekends in the Allianz League programme – but Meath’s league match against Cavan at Breffni Park on February 10th was called off after the pitch was deemed unplayable and was subsequently played on that free weekend.

That led to the game being moved to next weekend – the second window of the Allianz League campaign – which will now be occupied by another full round of league fixtures.

That has got us thinking in a week where there has been much chin-rubbing and highminded talk about the damage done to the ozone layer by cow dung and diesel Ford Fiestas which we are now paying the price for.

Perhaps, there is a less scientific but much more obvious explanation.

In a GAA schedule crammed with so many pointless games, is this merely the weather’s way of telling us to bin the O’Byrne Cup?