A Wicklow senior hurling championship fixture failed to go ahead at the weekend because one of the teams involved couldn't field a team.

Usually this sort of situation is confined to the lower realms of junior hurling or football, but when it occurs at senior level, the issue is highlighted a lot more.

Avondale were due to play St Patricks at Joule Park, Aughrim last Saturday, but only 13 players turned up for the game and St Pat's were given a walkover.

Avondale manager Emmett O'Sullivan admitted to the Wicklow People that they knew they were short a few players, but he stressed that they were confident of fielding a team.

"We had a couple of suspensions and a couple of injuries but at the end of the day it was embarrassing from my point of view and the club's point of view," said O'Sullivan.

"It's been a difficult year for the lads and with Eamonn (Kearns) injured it makes it harder. He's a talisman. Some lads don't see the point when he's not there."

O'Sullivan added that their failure to field a team in a SHC clash was no one else's fault only their own when questioned as if the county board could do more to help.

"Help is a lad answering the phone or turning up when you say you're going to turn up. Help is helping yourself. The county board in Wicklow can't be blamed because lads didn't turn up for a game on Saturday."

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