Children left ‘disappointed’ as mini game moved from Cork-Limerick semi-final at short notice

Children have been left “disappointed” over not being able to play during half time in Croke Park at the All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final tomorrow as Cork play Limerick, the secretary of Cumann na mBunscol has said.

Traditionally, the INTO Cumann na mBunscol Mini-Sevens games take place during half time of the senior game. However, this year, the GAA will make a presentation at Croke Park to celebrate its athletics past and to commemorate a century of Ireland’s Olympic Games involvement.

The commemoration also involves the staging of a novel mile run on the pitch. The Mini-Seven game will instead take place at half time during the preceeding fixture — the camogie game between Waterford and Galway.

“From time to time, events arise that necessitate changes to our scheduling, and this is one such instance,” a spokesperson for the GAA told The Echo. 

“The games have not been cancelled. The children will now play at half time in the camogie match and then provide a guard of honour for the race that has been organised at half time in the hurling match to honour our athletes and the 100th Anniversary of the Tailteann Games and Ireland’s first involvement in the Olympics.”

Cumann na mBunscol has said that the change has caused significant inconvenience and disappointment for both the children and their families.

Fidelma Ní Shioradáin, secretary of Cumann na mBunscol Náisiúnta, said they only found out about the change on Monday.

Some 42 boys and girls from various counties will take part at half time of the other All-Ireland senior hurling semi-final between Kilkenny and Clare today.

“However, the children selected to play on Sunday will now play at half time of the camogie match and not at half time of the Limerick v Cork hurling semi-final,” Ms Ní Shioradáin said. 

“This is very disappointing for the children involved and for their families. It will also cause major inconvenience for parents who will have to travel to Dublin much earlier than planned on Sunday.”

“Cumann na mBunscol has been in touch with the GAA leadership in Croke Park throughout the week to convey our disappointment and to ask them to reconsider.”

She said that their overriding concern is for the disappointment felt by the children who were looking forward to playing during half time of the hurling semi-final in front of a packed Croke Park.

“So far, we have not been successful, but there is still time for Croke Park authorities to reconsider. We believe that both the athletics and the children’s games could take place,” Ms Ní Shioradáin said, adding that Cumann na mBunscol personnel will do their best to ensure the children have as enjoyable a day as possible.