By Seamus McAleenan
THERE have to be questions over the timing and venues for the two main camogie games this weekend particularly in relation to Antrim.
No one who attends the senior final in Edendork will have an opportunity to attend Antrim’s Intermediate semi-final with Cavan in Ballinagh, while both camogie games clash with the county’s hurlers playing a Joe McDonagh Cup group game with Carlow in Corrigan Park.
There are families, such as the McNaughtons and O’Neills, who have their son Eoin, and daughter Nicole playing in Corrigan and a daughter in Edendork while other families such as the Lavertys (whose two daughters Orland Christine will both line out for different teams, and the Kellys have daughters in both Edendork and Ballinagh plus the Kelly’s who have a son playing with Antrim minor hurlers in Dundalk against Offaly in the Leinster Minor Hurling final.
A later start to the senior camogie final is not a solution as Down’s Paula O’Hagan will want to rush off to Clones to watch her husband Darren and the Down footballers in Ulster championship action against Monaghan at 4.30pm.
The McNaughton siblings James and Lucia will be playing at different venues at the same time
Although the final was in the schedule for Saturday, surely the counties would have agreed to move it back 24 hours for a head-to-head in the likes of Corrigan Park or Pairc Esler which would have been a better chance to promote the first provincial senior final in over 40 years between two counties who play at All-Ireland senior level.
I understand that the McDonagh Cup game between Down and Antrim was originally scheduled for Ballycran last Saturday and then postponed 24 hours as Antrim footballers were taking on Cavan in Corrigan.
A pragmatic move to maximise the possibilities. Surely it could have been done to avoid Saturday’s dilemma.
Ulster Senior Championship final
Saturday 12.30pm in Edendork
Down v Antrim
Ulster Intermediate semi-final
Saturday 1pm in Ballinagh
Cavan v Antrim II
Joe McDonagh Cup
Saturday 12.30 pm at Corrigan Park
Antrim v Carlow
Leinster Minor Hurling Chamionship
12-30 at St Brigid’s Park, Dundalk
Antrim v Offaly
Ulster Under 16 Shield Final
Saturday 2.30pm in Edendork GAC, Tyrone
Armagh II v Antrim II
Ulster under 16 Cup Final
Sunday 1st May at 1pm in Swatragh
Derry v Antrim