We barely had any time at all to ponder the oddly quaint naming of Storm Doris before Storm Ewan's insolent bluster has wreaked havoc on the National League fixtures this weekend. Fields across the country were groaning under the weight of surface water this morning, and while most games went ahead despite the inclement conditions (Donegal/Dublin; Longford/Armagh two such examples), one game was called off: Tyrone/Cavan in Division One.
The game was fixed for Omagh, and was scheduled to be the latter part of a doubleheader, to be preceded by the hurling clash between Tyrone and Donegal. It looked pretty clear that Omagh would be unable to host either game today, such was the level of water pooled on the pitch.
Just after 11am, the hurling game was moved to Carrickmore, but the football was expected to go ahead as planned.
Hurling game V Donegal moved to Carrickmore at 1pm. Football V Cavan still going ahead at 2.30pm
— Tyrone GAA (@TyroneGAALive) February 26, 2017
Despite these great intentions, it seemed pretty apparent that the pitch was unplayable, and the journalists who turned up early felt they wouldn't have a game to cover:
Not looking good in omagh pic.twitter.com/23SwhU8pLE
— Paul Fitzpatrick (@moefitzpatrick) February 26, 2017
Plenty of surface water on Healy afl pitch. Doubt there will be a game in omagh today pic.twitter.com/4bsFcXioVV
— Mark Gallagher (@bailemg) February 26, 2017
Despite the clear indications that the pitch was unplayable, it took until a pitch inspection by referee David Gough to finally call the game off.
Bizarre scenes in Omagh. Cavan management and players out on waterlogged pitch as we wait for the referee to arrive. pic.twitter.com/OvKLbL8Ibh
— Pauric Lodge (@pauriclodge) February 26, 2017
Referee David Gough arriving to call @TyroneGAALive and @CavanCoBoardGaa game off. Most likely. pic.twitter.com/wnRb6eWn1w
— Declan Bogue (@DeclanBogue) February 26, 2017
The decision to call it off was made just an hour before throw-in, meaning many supporters were already on the way to Healy Park. Supporters reacted with anger to a decision that is not unfamiliar to those acquainted with Healy Park on a wet spring afternoon...
Tyrone need to bite the bullet. Copy Roscommon. Close Omagh and sort out the field. Remedial work obviously isn't working too often
— Tomás Colton (@TomasColton) February 26, 2017
Gotta love a wee road trip to Omagh to find out the game is called off, so we just drive straight back... 😂🙈
— Rachel (@rachel_cooney97) February 26, 2017
Bit late for notice especially for travelling support also there seems to be an issue with drainage at Omagh. https://t.co/M2hz1i8bHY
— Eamonn McGurk (@McGurkEamonn) February 26, 2017
What a load of shite drive to Omagh to find our game is called off. Could Tyrone have not got a local referee to inspect pitch at 11am #gaa
— 🏐Caoin Mc Cabe 🥃 (@Caoin_McCabe) February 26, 2017
Why were people allowed to travel to Omagh when there was a danger the match would be called off???
— Adrian Logan (@OurLogie) February 26, 2017
Way too late for those who travel to see games. Anyone from Omagh would've known field was unplayable. #GAAcomedyact https://t.co/g58UUUICn3
— Jimmy Hill (@ProfJimmyHill) February 26, 2017
Absurd.
Oh, and remember the hurling game that was moved to Carrickmore? That was postponed, too. Details of the refixtures are expected early next week.
