Clonoe postponement plea rejected

Damien Cassidy (right) celebrates after Sunday's Clonoe triumph

Clonoe boss Damien Cassidy has expressed disappointment after his team's Ulster Club SFC game against St Eunan's was confirmed for this Sunday.

Cassidy's side will be playing their fourth game in four weeks but the Ulster Council refused to entertain any deferral of the Healy Park tie.

"Crossmaglen got latitude because Aaron Kernan is in Australia and that is right and proper," said Cassidy.

"Our request didn't even get a hearing which is disappointing."

Cassidy, who was recently appointed as Derry senior county boss, added that delaying his side's game for seven days would "not have unduly affected the running of the competition".

"It's a pity that we were not afforded the opportunity of a postponement for a week but we can do nothing about it at this stage.

"We'll be back hell for leather this weekend and we just have to get on with it.

"We're in the Ulster Club Championship and it's not a bad position for our boys to be in."

Cassidy took the Clonoe job less than 10 months ago but he said that he quickly realised the potential within the O'Rahilly's squad.

"After playing three or four (challenge) games against very good opposition from various counties, I could see that we had a potentially very good team.

"Of course, those kind of games are nothing like championship football but you do get an indication of players' abilities.

"I could see that the right mentality was there and that there was a great ambition in the squad."