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Waterford accept Antrim offer to move Division Four league game to Dundalk

Waterford have accepted Antrim’s offer to play their Allianz Football League Division Four meet...



Waterford accept Antrim offer...
Hurling

Waterford accept Antrim offer to move Division Four league game to Dundalk

Waterford have accepted Antrim’s offer to play their Allianz Football League Division Four meeting at a neutral venue.

The Munster side had conceded as a number of their players were unwilling to travel to Northern Ireland for tomorrow’s game.

But Antrim last night offered to move the match to Dundalk in an effort to fulfil the fixture, and that has been accepted by the Déise.

The match was originally scheduled for Portglenone, which led to six Waterford players saying their were unwilling to fulfil the fixture.

Waterford had sought to have the game played at a neutral venue.

Some players' employers had been threatening to impose 14-day isolation periods on those travelling to County Antrim, despite there being no legal requirement to do so.

Waterford formally conceded the match on Thursday morning, saying, "Having weighed up all the options and having regard to the genuine concern of our players, we had no choice but to concede our final league match."

In a statement on Twitter on Thursday night, Antrim opened the door to the game happening after all.

"We have offered Waterford to move our home game from Portglenone, to Belfast, now to Dundalk.

"We believe that the integrity of the league needs to be upheld.  

"If we are good enough to collect 2-points we will do it in a fair and manly manner on the field of play."

And in a statement this morning, Waterford GAA said they had accepted that offer from Antrim.

"Waterford last night agreed to Antrim's generous offer to play the Allianz League game in Dundalk. The game was confirmed later last night for Geraldines Louth GAA club grounds."

Waterford's stance was informed somewhat by a number of dual players on the Antrim panels.

The Saffrons confirmed that five members of their hurling panel have tested positive for coronavirus, while another player and a backroom team member are isolating after being deemed close contacts.

Despite a depleted squad, Antrim say they intend to play in Sunday's scheduled Joe McDonagh Cup match with Westmeath.

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Allianz Football League Antrim Conor Murray Coronavirus Covid-19 Joe McDonagh Cup Waterford Westmeath