Fermanagh match is fixed for this Sunday in Markievicz Park
THE harsh weather in the Northwest meant most of the scheduled games were called off due to unplayable pitches.
An early pitch inspection in Markievicz Park resulted in the postponement of Sligo’s Allianz round 3 game with Fermanagh which was due to star at 2pm.
It was announced late yesterday afternoon that the match is now set to take place this Sunday in Markievicz Park also at 2pm.
Sligo ladies also had their home match in the Lidl NFL with Armagh also postponed because the pitch was unplayable in Tourlestrane.
That game is also expected to be rescheduled for this weekend as Paddy Henry’s new-look side continue their League campaign.
Sligo manager Cathal Corey said that although it was disappointing the Fermanagh game had to be called off, there was very little that could be done.
He said: “The weather has been as bad as ever with all the snow, it seems the winter is dragging and dragging, you would be hoping when it gets to mid February that it would have been getting better.
“It was disappointing that the game was called off but I suppose with the weather there is not an awful lot you can do.
“We were all ready to go and the fellas were ready so it was disappointing in that sense.
“Then we had to go and do a training session with them and when it’s in the boys’ heads that they are going playing a match it can be hard to go training but once we got up to the sandy field they were happy enough.”
With news just filtering through that the game is on Sunday, with some players still in Sigerson action, this could mean some will be away for the Fermanagh match.
“There is Sigerson on Saturday so we could have a couple of players away but there is nothing we can do about that, we will have to just wait and see.
“I would like to have all the players available to us for the game but we will have to see how it goes,” the manager added.
In terms of the Fermanagh match the Tyrone man said he is familiar with them and that they are a very hardworking and well-drilled side.
“I know a few of their players and the management team and they are a side that work very hard at everything.
“I suppose Sligo and Fermanagh are neighbours too from different Provinces as well.
“It is a big game we have two points on board after the Wexford win and we are looking forward to Fermanagh it will be a big, big test.
“Fermanagh are going very well, they did well in the McKenna Cup and they are well organised and are very determined. They have a big following of fans too.”
Cathal said with the recent poor weather the team haven’t got as much training on Markievicz due to this.
“With the weather unfortunately we haven’t been out training as much on it we only had 20 minutes on it before the last game but it’s great to have a pitch like it and to be at home in this match too is great for the boys.”
He said there are no new injury worries for the Yeats men going into Sunday’s match with the Ulstermen. “The injuries are clearing up thank God and we have a number of players starting to come back that are doing rehab.
“Kevin McDonnell is very close to coming back, he’s doing training and we expect he will come back very very soon. “Charlie Harrison was unlucky that he got a knock in the Down game back in December but he is making good progress too.
“Everybody is working hard in training and are all eager to make their place.
“It is making our job more difficult in terms of picking the team but that is a good complaint to have .
“It’s making it harder every time we sit down to pick the team but from a management team’s point of view that is great,” Cathal said.
Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park, Sunday, 2pm.