It's all systems go for Parnell

Parnell Park is playable and Sunday’s refixed O’Byrne Cup opener between Dublin and Wexford will, as it stands, go ahead at the Donnycarney venue, despite some speculation during the week that the match could be moved elsewhere.

Dublin County Coard chairman Gerry Harrington confirmed the pitches playability today, declaring the match: “all systems go.” “There should be no problem,” he told the Evening Herald.

“There was very little problem once the thaw set in and it’s a grand morning today.

“It’s a lot better than it was early in the week and I wouldn’t envisage any interruption to the match on Sunday.

But again, it’s all dependent on the weather between now and Sunday. “But the only person who can call the match off now is the referee.”

PILE-UP

The bad weather has already caused a fixture pile-up in Munster where all three of last night’s McGrath Cup ties were cancelled due to unplayable pitches, while already this week, O'Byrne Cup matches have been forced into a change of venue.

Munster Council confirmed have rescheduled the McGrath ties for tomorrow, leaving the winners of Tipperary v UL, Kerry v IT Tralee and Limerick v Waterford will be forced to play two matches in 24 hours over the weekend.

The heavy conditions have also rendered Innisfails pitch in Balgriffin unplayable. Earlier in the week, the Dublin County Board had considered the sand-based pitch as an alternative to Parnell Park, should the Donnycarney surface incur any more damage during the week.

But due to heavy rain, Balgriffin is not on option, meaning the remaining matches of the senior football regional tournament will be completed tonight at Ballymun Kickhams ground in Collinstown Lane instead.

The competition was only half completed when it was originally staged before Christmas after a frozen pitch in Balgriffin drew a line through the second day’s schedule of matches.

INSUFFICIENT

Four remaining fixtures will, however, be played off tonight, with the Dublin West team withdrawing due to insufficient playing numbers on account of third-level commitments.

The first fixture throws in at 6.0, with the final matched scheduled to start at 8.45.