| Wolfe Tones to play away |
|
| Tuesday, 02 September 2008 15:05 | |
 WOLFE TONES are set to press ahead with playing their quarter-final of the senior football championship the weekend after next. Rather than go down the road of taking on the Clare County Board over its refusal to grant a deferral of their game with Shannon Gaels on August 24, the Shannon side will now face off against Kilmurry Ibrickane in two weeks time. This move will come as a welcome relief for the county board and other clubs, as the spectre of an appeal against the walkover taken by Shannon Gaels over Wolfe Tones threatened to delay the championship. This appeal, had it been lodged by Wolfe Tones, could have brought the senior championship to the Munster Council and delayed the quarter-final round of the competition by a number of weeks. However, in pulling back from the brink, the Shannon side have paved the way for the quarter-final rounds, which puts the county board right on schedule to conclude the championship by its self-imposed deadline of Sunday, October 12. Wolfe Tones’ move means that Shannon Gaels will play St Senan’s Kilkee in the other quarter-final tie. The Gaels go into the tie as Group 1 winners. Meanwhile, Wolfe Tones as Group 2 runners-up now have take on Kilmurry Ibrickane - a tie which is a repeat of their quarter-final from last year which was sensationally won by the Shannon side. Ironically, Wolfe Tones started with their preparations for the quarter-final by taking on Shannon Gaels in a challenge match on Saturday evening last - the day that they wanted to play the championship tie between the two sides. However, the county board insisted that Wolfe Tones play senior hurling and football championship on successive days. Shannon Gaels won the challenge game by 0-13 to 0-8. |