The management of an under 18 football team in Sligo said they were ‘shocked’ when they were not able to reorganise a match that clashed with Leaving Cert mock orals.
The match was originally due to take place on 7th March but Connacht FA agreed to reschedule it due to poor weather conditions.
On Lunchtime Live, Louise Kilbane, who is part of the management team of Real Tubber FC Under 18s, said the club assumed they would be able to play the Connacht Shield final in April after the schools broke up.
Instead, they were offered 28th March, when players were due to sit their Leaving Cert mock orals.
“We assumed that they'd be able to refix it during the Easter holidays at some point,” Ms Kilbane explained.
“We were turned down, we refused that.
“We went over and back with Connacht FA a number of times requesting with our final email actually being on Saturday morning, pleading with them to please not let the game go ahead, that we would not be fielding a team.
“Our girls were currently undertaking orals.”
Real Tubber. Image: Supplied.Ms Kilbane added that she understands that Connacht FA a lot of emails about all sorts of things.
However, she said she does not believe their request for an alternative date was unreasonable.
“It's not even a girl boy issue - it's youth sport,” she said.
“Fixtures should not be directly aligned with state examinations.
“If you look for the month of June, no code plays sports in the month of June, particularly at that under 18 level, that minor level.”
Ms Kilbane continued that management were “shocked”, while the players were “very disappointed” at not being able to play.
“To be honest, we we've been trying to shield them as much as possible because they are doing their Leaving Cert orals,” Ms Kilbane said.
“And these girls are high performers, both on and off the pitch.
“At this stage in their young career, this is probably the pinnacle of all exams that they've ever had to sit at this stage in their young lives.”
Connacht FA has been contacted for comment.
