Trouble brewing in Armagh league

Dromintee's Barry Shannon

THE Armagh Senior League faces the prospect of an extra couple of games in the July break with a decision to be taken by the county’s CCC this week regarding the outstanding Crossmaglen v Dromintee game.

It is understood that the All-Ireland champions did not fulfil the fixture last Friday, which will likely lead to Dromintee being awarded the points. The CCC must confirm this however, and if they do, it will result in play-off games due to the new format of the Armagh leagues in 2012.

“The Crossmaglen v Dromintee ACFL game will be dealt with by CCC at a meeting during this week,” confirmed an Armagh county official.

“If the game is awarded to Dromintee and they finished level with any other team or teams, then play-offs would be required to decide who would be in top or bottom eight competition.”

The tightness of the league, a firm vindication of the new structures introduced, has resulted in a traffic jam around the split places – where the league breaks into a top eight and bottom eight.

If Dromintee are awarded the points, there will be three, and potentially four, teams locked in the split argument – Pearse Óg, Sarsfield’s and Granemore can also all finish on 16 points.

The Ógs, however, can move safely into the top eight if they pick up a point in their remaining fixture against rivals Armagh Harps. The match was abandoned at half-time last week due to the adverse weather conditions and was due to be replayed last night.

If the Ballycrummy club are able to earn at least a draw against Aidan Breen’s side, they will move onto 17 or 18 points leaving Granemore, Sarsfield’s and Dromintee, if they are awarded the Crossmaglen match, fighting it out for the final position in the top half.

The full story is in the current issue of Gaelic Life, published on Thursday July 5. Buy your copy now in your local newsagent, or you can purchase the online version – for only 90p – by clicking here