Gaelic Games

Mayo senior club fixtures postponed ahead of All-Ireland final

Fixtures postponed to allow Stepen Rochford’s squad four weeks of preparation

Jason Doherty celebrates his goal against Tipperary. Mayo’s players will have four weeks to prepare for the All-Ireland final after all senior club fixtures were postponed. Photograph: Inpho
Jason Doherty celebrates his goal against Tipperary. Mayo’s players will have four weeks to prepare for the All-Ireland final after all senior club fixtures were postponed. Photograph: Inpho
Wed Aug 24 2016 - 10:32

Mayo GAA have announced next weekend's senior club fixtures will be postponed as the county prepare for their third All-Ireland football final in five years.

Stephen Rochford’s side reached the Croke Park showpiece, where they will face Dublin or Kerry, after beating Tipperary 2-13 to 0-14 in last Sunday’s semi-final.

And now the county board have confirmed all senior club fixtures, and intermediate games featuring inter-county players, will be postponed until after September 18th, when Mayo will look to end a 55-year wait for Sam Maguire.

A joint statement from the county board and senior management said: “Following discussions since Mayo’s victory over Tipperary in last Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC semi-final, it has been decided to postpone next weekend’s round of Mayo SFC games. All IFC games will go ahead as scheduled except the following which involve members of the Mayo senior panel: Bohola Moy Davitts v Swinford; Westport v Shrule-Glencorrib; and Belmullet v Burrishoole.

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“This has not been an easy decision for all concerned as we were faced with a Catch 22 situation. Everyone involved in Mayo GAA wishes to support the senior football team as effectively as we can in the run-up to September 18th - and, equally, everyone is fully aware of the impact a postponement at such late notice will have on club players and managements.

“However, after carefully considering the various issues involved, and acknowledging that there was no simple solution, we feel that the best interests of Mayo football will be served on this occasion by postponing the above games so that the team can prepare for the All-Ireland final.

“The primary reason for doing so is to allow the team the four weeks of preparation between now and the final so that they can represent all of us in optimum condition on September 18th. We hope all Mayo GAA people will understand the well-founded motivation for our decision and rally around the team for the next few weeks.

“It is proposed to now hold the next round of SFC games on the weekend after the All-Ireland final (Sept. 24th/25th). The IFC games mentioned above will also go ahead on that weekend also.

“The quarter finals in both the SFC & IFC championship will go ahead on 1st/2nd October.”