LAST UPDATE | 28 Nov 2022
LEINSTER GAA HAVE changed the order of next Sunday’s provincial senior club finals in Croke Park as they seek to accommodate Kilmacud Crokes dual player Brian Sheehy.
The schedule has been changed with the hurling final now on at 2.30pm as Kilmacud face Ballyhale Shamrocks of Kilkenny and that will be followed by the football final at 4.30pm as Kilmacud meet Westmeath’s The Downs.
The fixtures presented a problem for the talented Sheehy but as a regular starter for the hurlers, his role is greater in that final.
The 2020 All-Ireland U-20 hurling finalist with Dublin lined out in defence for Crokes yesterday afternoon in the hurling semi-final and scored a point, eight days after coming on for the footballers in their semi-final win over Portarlington and pinching a point in that game too.
Speaking after yesterday’s game Kilmacud Crokes boss Kieran Dowling reckoned it was ‘unfair’ to ask Sheehy to play in the two finals next Sunday.
“It’s unfortunate and in some ways I’m here wondering do we actually look for it to be moved, or do we just go and have a historic day and have two teams in Leinster finals?” said Dowling, the joint manager of the Crokes hurlers. “I think it’s very unfair on Brian, on a human level.
“It doesn’t strike me as right. It’s not Des Foley in the sixties and the Railway Cup – it’s 2022 and I don’t think that’s fair to Brian, personally.”
Dowling said his principal wish is that Sheehy is given the opportunity to play to his potential in both finals.
“Look, all I want is Brian to be able to perform at his best, that’s all,” he said. “I don’t think that’s unfair. If it was Loughmore-Castleiney or a Cork team, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Despite his concerns around the situation, Dowling said it would be possible for Sheehy to play in both finals, if necessary.
“Of course he could do it, he’s a beast,” said Dowling. “The lad is a beast, so he could do it, but it’s not fair. It’s very unfair.”
Originally published at 07.45
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