St Michael's Sweeney feels clubs were 'disrespected' over timing of draw

Donegal GAA officials have been accused of being disrespectful to a number of senior teams with the timing of the draw for the third round of the Michael Murphy SFC. 

The draw was made live on RTE Raidió Na Gaeltachta and on the Donegal GAA Facebook page immediately after the second round meeting of Bundoran and St Eunan’s at approximately 3:55pm on Sunday.

This was minutes before the 4pm throw-in for Milford and St Michaels in their second round clash at Moyle View Park in Milford and the 6.30pm meeting of Sean MacCumhaills and Four Masters in Ballybofey. 

The draw was originally scheduled to take place in Ballybofey, following the last match of the weekend but was switched to the early time in Bundoran.

Speaking after his team’s 1-17 to 0-7 win over Milford, Cathal Sweeney, the St Michael’s joint-manager with Raymond McLaughlin, said they were disappointed that the draw was made before the second series of fixtures was completed.

“Normally every other year the draw was made after the last game to be fair to all teams,” Sweeney said. “It was a bit unfair on us and Milford and on MacCumhaills and Four Masters.

“It is a disadvantage to the teams and I’m not sure if the county board has given a reason for doing it. It puts us at a bit of a disadvantage. Any neutral watching us and knew they were playing us have a little more knowledge on us.”

As it turned out Naomh Conaill will visit St Michael’s this coming weekend with Milford making the trip to Kellybegs. Four Masters will be home to Bundoran and Gaoth Dobhair welcome MacCumhaill’s. Whoever has drawn MacCumhaills or Four Masters have two and half hours to get to Ballybofey to see the game,” Sweeney added.

“We feel it was disrespectful to the four teams ourselves and Milford and MacCumhaills and Four Masters. It was very unfair. But it is done and dusted now and it is a case of moving on and preparing for Glenties next weekend.”