Walsh unhappy over late postponement of FBD game

GALWAY footballers face two matches in the Connacht FBD League in less than 48 hours this weekend after the controversial eleventh-hour postponement of their clash with Mayo at MacHale Park last Sunday.

A crowd of close to 2,000, including a small band of Galway fans, had turned up for the second round FBD League fixture before the game was called off due to the sections of the pitch being frozen.

Referee Paddy Neilan only ruled against the fixture going ahead after a second inspection around the time (2pm) the ball was supposed to be thrown in, leading to obvious frustration in the Galway and Mayo camps.

“You’d think that by 11.0 this morning you’d know if it was playable or not before people left home. We’d be very disappointed. Young fellas were revved up for the game and to turn around and be getting on a bus to go home is not where they want to be,” said Galway manager Kevin Walsh.

Adding to the all-round despair was the failure to refund supporters their admission fee after the match was called off, but the Connacht Council has since relented by offering fans their money back if they send on their ticket stub to the provincial GAA Centre in Bekan.

The game has now been refixed for MacHale Park on Friday night (7.30pm) before Galway have to quickly dust themselves down for a clash with Leitrim in Clonbur on Sunday (2pm).

Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.