The latest impediment to Cork City's sealing the league title is Ophelia, as the ex-hurricane has caused serious structural damage at Turner's Cross. Their potential coronation with Derry City was due to take place tonight, but was postponed until tomorrow evening owing to the weather conditions. This was the second time this fixture has been rescheduled, having initially been put off as a result of international call-ups. RTE had to negotiate with UEFA to ensure they were allowed to broadcast the game live, as Champions League rights holders are usually forbidden from broadcasting football from any other competition at the same time.
Kenny Shiels, the Derry manager, told BBC Radio Foyle that he did not want the game to go ahead on Tuesday evening, citing a lack of preparation afforded to he and his players:
We're a little bit concerned to be honest. To sit in a hotel for two and a half days waiting on a game is not the professional preparation we would have liked.
I don't want to be critical because I did say in my earlier talks that I didn't think the game should be played on Monday and that proved correct.
But in hindsight now it shouldn't be played on Tuesday either because we have been deprived of the preparation.
You know, this is a potentially a Championship winning game for Cork City and it would also deprive Dundalk of a team that is able to play professionally against that. We have been deprived of that. It's not fair on the likes of Dundalk who are also in the title run.
We're disappointed we have to play it on Tuesday. But if it's not safe and it's jeopardising the welfare and safety of the players and staff, we will be coming home.
I'm in two minds what to do now. I don't see any value is hanging about for two and a half days. We're deprived of our preparation. Any football manager will tell you that you need to have preparation.
As it turns out, the game may not be played on Tuesday after all, as there has been significant structural damage caused to Turner's Cross. This video by Mick Ring shows the pressure placed on the roof of the stand by the extremely strong winds.
Roof on the Derrynane Road Stand in Turners Cross is undet a bit of pressure #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/HZtoUwmPoN
— Mick Ring (@MickRing83) October 16, 2017
And this, by Ethan McCarthy:
Video of Derrynane roof pic.twitter.com/NqjDLuV1ks
— Ethan McCarthy (@EthanMcC90) October 16, 2017
Unfortunately, it failed to withstand the pressure, and has been seriously damaged. This, from Alan Smith:
There is no official word on the match tomorrow night, but it is safe to assume that it is in serious doubt.
