A pitch inspection carried out on Tuesday at Healy Park in Omagh has deemed the pitch unplayable for tomorrow night's BOI McKenna Cup game between Tyrone and Antrim. The news ensures the absurdity of league games in Winter reaches another level.
Last year the Allianz League clash of Tyrone vs Cavan was also postponed due to the same venue failing a pitch inspection. Wednesday's game has been moved to the Athletic Grounds in Armagh with a 8.00pm throw-in.
The news has been greeted by a wave of frustration at the prolonged difficulties the pitch in Omagh faces.
It really beggars belief that year after year they keep fixing winter games for Omagh. https://t.co/2ACgodAIuu
— John Mc Connell (@jmacdotie) January 2, 2018
Yet again @TyroneGAALive aren’t able to play in Omagh... is not about time yous started using Garvaghy or attempted to rectify the issues at Healy?
— AoibhinnNicGeidigh☀ (@aoibhinngeddis) January 2, 2018
Tyrone v Antrim now in Armagh tomorrow night. Tyrone boys can't stay away. Please keep the pitch in good condition we have a game on Sunday. Something really needs done with pitch in Omagh
— Niamh Thornbury (wear a mask) (@niamharmagh11) January 2, 2018
While a case can be made that the pitch shouldn't have to be designed for winter use, the reality is that practice will not change anytime soon and Omagh seems to have more difficulty than most handling the conditions.
Healy Park has been an issue for a considerable amount of time now. In 2015, former Donegal football star Martin McHugh strongly criticised the field as dangerous to player's safety.
Earlier this year, Roscommon unveiled an impressive looking new surface at Dr. Hyde's Park after years of difficulty with drainage. The move came after the county missed out on the gate revenues from their league campaign as they only played one of the four Division One matches there.
In response, the county board commissioned work to remove the old sod and carry out extensive drainage work. Soon after they laid down a sand-based pitch.
That €700,000 development was backed by the GAA. With increasing pressure to address the problem, the time may have come for Tyrone to follow a similar route.
