Call for SFAI to reconsider cancellation of Skechers Cups

The two remaining Mayo clubs in the 2019/20 SFAI Skechers National Cups are involved in a campaign to have the competitions concluded.

Castlebar Celtic and Kiltimagh/Knock United had reached the quarterfinals of the Under 14 and Under 16 competitions respectively before the Covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to all sport in the country.

On May 16, the SFAI Executive Committee decided to cancel competitions that had not been completed at both Skechers Cup (club) and SUBWAY (inter-league) levels, as well as the 2020 Kennedy Cup inter-league tournament for Under 14 boys (although subsequently the SFAI said it would look at all options to run the Kennedy Cup later in the year).

That decision to postpone the Skechers Cup was described as hasty by Castlebar Celtic youths secretary Shane Quigley, who is also manager of the club's Under 14 team that had earned a place in the Skechers Cup quarterfinals and a home draw against the biggest name in Irish football, Shamrock Rovers.

“When the Under 14 Cup was cancelled, I got in touch with one or two clubs that were still in the competition,” he explained. “When I rang Aisling Annacotty (Limerick), it turned out they had been doing the same thing down in Munster. Between us we decided to take it a bit more national.”

They got a terrific response as 20 of the 21 clubs still involved in the latter stages of all the competitions, from Under 12 to Under 16, including Kiltimagh/Knock United, decided to get on board with a campaign to ask the SFAI to reconsider their earlier decision and actually finish the campaigns, if it was safe to do so.

The Kiltimagh/Knock United Under 16 team after winning the SFAI Skechers Cup round of 16 game earlier this year.

“All we were looking for when we contacted the SFAI was that they would delay their decision to cancel,” said Shane. “Our goal was to get them to look at making a decision at the end of July or beginning of August rather than the middle of May.”

After months of lockdown, the resumption of the Skechers Cups would be something for children to look forward to. “We (Castlebar Celtic) have Shamrock Rovers coming to Castlebar. It would be a shame for all the kids if that game couldn't happen,” Shane concluded.

Kiltimagh/Knock United had also landed a home draw in the quarterfinals of the Under 16 competition against Shannon Town United, another game to whet the appetite.

According to a report in EchoLive.ie, the managing director of sponsors Skechers, Paul Gallagher, said it would be 'great' if the compeitions finished 'provided the measures are there for it to be done so safely for all involved'. The ball is in the SFAI's court now.

*Pictured top of page, the Castlebar Celtic Under 14 squad and coaches, including Shane Quigley (back right), who has been an active campaigner to encourage the SFAI to complete the 2019/20 Skechers Cup competitions.