GAA:The entire FBD League programme in Connacht has been postponed as the big freeze continues to decimate the Irish sporting programme. And with little sign of weather conditions improving, the start of the inter-county season is in real doubt across the country.
Galway, under new management with Joe Kernan at the helm, had been due to face Sligo this weekend with Mayo hosting NUIG and Roscommon travelling to Sligo IT.
But with the freezing conditions forecast to last well into next week the fixtures have already been put back until January 17th.
“The games scheduled for this weekend will now take place on Sunday week and the other two rounds will be pushed out by a week in each case,” explained Connacht Council secretary John Prenty.
“We had scheduled the final for January 31st but the final round of pool games wil now take place that weekend so we will need to get a new date for the final,” he added.
The O’Byrne Cup in Leinster, Dr McKenna Cup in Ulster and McGrath Cup in Munster are also scheduled to start this weekend. Given the current conditions, however, it is inevitable that many more fixtures will fall by the wayside.
In Ulster, officials have already scheduled next Wednesday as a date for postponements if pitches are ruled unplayable and will make a final decision tomorrow.
The Leinster and Munster councils will also make official statements at lunch time tomorrow.