LADIES GAA | Another twist to the Senior Championship as Blues pull out of play-off

Newfoundwell club were due to play Stabannon on Sunday

The ongoing saga surrounding the Louth Ladies Senior Championship took another dramatic twist on Friday night when news emerged that Newtown Blues have pulled out of a three-way play-off to determine the semi-finalists.

The Blues, Stabannon and Cooley Kickhams were set to enter a play-off following the Newfoundwell club’s successful appeal to Leinster Council on Wednesday night that left the three clubs on six points apiece.

Stabannon and the Blues were due to meet on Sunday morning in Ardee with the winner advancing to the semi-finals.

The loser of that match was fixed to play Cooley in Haggardstown next Wednesday with the winner taking the remaining semi-final spot.

Those plans, however, have been thrown into disarray after the Drogheda club withdrew from the competition.

The semi-final line up will now see Stabannon play St Brides and Geraldines play Cooley Kickhams.

Dates and venues for those fixtures should be confirmed in the next 24 hours but the likelihood is that one semi-final will be played on Wednesday and the other two days later.

As the Louth champions are scheduled to play in Leinster competition on Sunday, October 1st, the most realistic date for the Senior Championship final is Friday, September 22nd.

It cannot be played on Saturday, September 23rd or Sunday, September 24th due to the Ladies All Ireland final.

The Intermediate Championship semi finals will take place, as scheduled, in Tallanstown tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Junior Championship final between Clan na Gael and O’Raghallaighs/Oliver Plunketts will take place on Saturday, September 16th at 2pm. A venue has yet to be confirmed.