JIM McGuinness’s Donegal heroes face being crocked in county championship matches just two weeks before one of their best chances of winning the Ulster Championship in years.
Now the Donegal boss has accused county board officials of working against his hard-working county stars.
The Donegal manager made a very public plea after his team’s super win over Tyrone in Clones last Sunday.
And he was very clear in his plea for the county championship to be postponed until after the clash with Derry in the Ulster final in a fortnight’s time.
But his wishes have been caught up in GAA red tape – because the fixtures have been agreed between the county board and the Ulster Council.
McGuinness fumed “The fact that the games are going ahead is very disappointing and is very unfair on the players and the clubs.
“It is unfair on the clubs because they are being forced to play without having their county players in league matches in the last couple of weeks.
“It is unfair on the players, the clubs and the county as a whole,” he said.
He added that he had to now accept the decision by the Competitions Control Committee.
Chairman of the CCC Charlie Cannon said he did not wan to get into a row with JIm McGuinness and said his hands were tied on the matter.
A relative of one young players was not as diplomatic as manager McGuinness.
“The GAA is a powerful organisation and what it says, goes.
“The boys are extremely disappointed that they will have to play club games. They know that an injury picked up this weekend could well rule them out of the chance of lifting the Anglo-Celt.
LOYAL TO CLUBS
“They are loyal to their clubs, but Jim (McGuinness) was right. We should have postponed these matches.”
The manager said earlier this week: ““A number of games are on a knife edge such as the meeting of Glenswilly and Naomh Conaill with six to seven players involved. This is a winner-takes-all game because it was a draw the last day.
“There are other big games too. A lot of players came back from the first leg games with fairly serious to medium injuries and we don’t want that situation arising again ahead of such a big game as an Ulster final.”
Fans will be praying that all players on the senior panel will turn up for county training next week free from injury.
Here are the GAA County Championship fixtures:
Thursday, 30th June
Busanna Feda ó Dónaill Intermediate Championship Preliminary Round 8.00pm
Naomh Bríd V NNaille M McShane
Linesmen J White & G O Donnell
Busanna Feda ó Dónaill Intermediate Championship reserve 6.30pm
Naomh Bríd V NNaille G O Donnell
Saturday, 2nd July, 6.00 and 7.30
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Championship Senior & Reserve Championship
Naomh Micheál V Sean MacCumhaills T.B.C.
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Championship
Na Ceithre Máistirí V Bun Dobhráin Ciaran McShea
Linesmen A Mullin & E McBrearty
Gl Fhinne V Málainn Liam Brown
Linesman Rory McGonagle & Paddy McGowan
Cill Chartha V Na Cealla Beaga Ref Robbie O Donnell
Linesmen S Toolin & James Keenan
Naomh Adhamhnáin V An Clochán Laith Jimmy White
Linesmen Connie Doherty & Paul Clifford
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Reserve Championship
Na Ceithre Máistirí V Bun Dobhráin Ref Andrew Mullin
Gleann Fhinne V Málainn Paddy McGowan
Cill Chartha V Na Cealla Beaga S Toolin
Naomh Adhamhnáin V An Clochán Laith Ref Connie Doherty
Busanna Feda ó Dónaill Intermediate Championship Preliminary Round
Carndomhnaigh v Naomh Colmcille Mickey Mulhern
Linesman Paddy McKeever & Joe O Donnell
Gaeil Fhánada V Aodh Rua (Béal Átha Seanaidh) Paddy McGonagle
Linesmen James Trearty & Don Langon
Busanna Feda ó Dónaill Intermediate Reserve Championship
Carndomhnaigh v Naomh Colmcille Paddy McKeever
Gaeil Fhánada V Aodh Rua ( Béal Átha Seanaidh) Don Langon
Sunday July 3
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Championship @ 5.30 p.m
An Tearmann V Gaoth Dobhair Ian Molloy
Linesmen Kevin Doherty & Seamus Bradley
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Reserve Championship @ 4.00 p.m
An Tearmann V Gaoth Dobhair Kevin Doherty
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Championship 7.30 p.m
Cloich Cheann Fhola V Ard an Ratha Paddy McBride
Linesmen Martin Coll & Alan Boyd
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Reserve Championship @ 6.00 p.m
Cloich Cheann Fhola V Ard an Ratha Martin Coll
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior Championship @ 3.30 pm
Naomh Conaill V Glean Súilí Seamus McMonagle
Linesmen Pat Walsh & Tony Gallagher
RTÉ Radió na Gaeltachta Senior reserve Championship 2.00 pm
Naomh Conaill V Glean Súilí Tony Gallagher
Busanna Feda ó Dónaill Junior B Preliminary Round
Sean MacCumhaills V An Termann T.B.C.
Naomh Mícheal V Ard an Ratha T.B.C
Na Rossa V Gaeil Leither Ceanainn 3.00 Kevin McGinley
Na Dúnaibh V Naomh Adhamhnáin 3.00 Benny Trearty
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