The London senior hurling final has been postponed at short notice for a second time, leaving frustrated followers intending to travel over from Ireland at a further financial loss after booking flights and accommodation.
St Gabriel’s and Brothers Pearse were provisionally scheduled to play on Sunday in McGovern Park at 1.30, with the county board stipulating that the fixture was “subject to change” owing to an ongoing appeal by semi-finalists Robert Emmett’s.
But a correspondence issued by London CCC chairperson, Roddy Walsh, a short time ago notified clubs that the final would be postponed again until the outcome of a DRA hearing in the coming week, believed to be on Thursday.
Robert Emmett’s won their semi-final against St Gabriel’s but an objection over a player’s eligibility caused the first postponement of the final three weeks ago, and later saw the reinstatement of St Gabriel’s as a finalist.
Brothers Pearse include two sons of former Limerick hurler Pat Heffernan whose family was affected by the double postponement, having had to cancel travel plans. One source estimated that the combined financial loss to families and supporters could be as high as €80,000.
The secretary of Brothers Pearse, Fiona O’Brien, described the decision to postpone the final three weeks ago as “insulting”.