A FOOTBALL TEAM in Sligo say they were not able to play the U18s Girls Connacht Final last weekend because the date clashed with the Leaving Cert oral exams.

Real Tubber FC say they asked Connacht FA several times before the 28 March fixture to reschedule, as six of their players had exams that day.

Connacht FA has yet to issue a statement, but Real Tubber claims their requests were denied.

The game went ahead on Saturday without Real Tubber, resulting in a win for Murvue United of Galway.

The match had originally been scheduled for earlier in the month, but it was postponed due to weather conditions and lack of pitch availability.

The new date given landed during the Irish oral exams, which were scheduled from 28 March to 2 April. Students also sit oral exams on Saturdays and Sundays.

A statement released by Real Tubber last Friday said:

These players, who have served this club so well for the past ten years, will now lose their opportunity to contest their last ever underage game in a Connacht final.

Louise Kilbane, who helps manage the team, told The Journal that due to the size of their club and the availability of players, Real Tubber would not be able to play the match.

Matches for teams in this age cohort are not scheduled in June, when written state exams take place. Kilbane thinks oral exams shouldn’t be treated any different.

“We understand weather conditions. We understand games have to be postponed. But surely a legitimate reason to refix a game is the state exams?

“We know the importance and power of sport,” she said.

“This is not a girls in sport thing. This is any young person who is sitting state exams.”

She said choosing not to play the game is about “standing up” to “bad practice”.

The team is disappointed that they won’t get a chance to contest the final, but they support their teammates who are doing their exams.

“It’s a soccer team that’s made of girls of a number of small parishes, but they all go to school together,” said Kilbane.

“They’re quite a tight group. They look out for each other.”

When Real Tubber posted a statement on Facebook explaining the situation the day before the match, supporters expressed disappointment at Connacht FA’s decision.

Some commenters remarked that it was “damaging” and could further discourage young women from staying in sport.

In the statement on Friday, Real Tubber said the FA had “not offered a credible explanation” as to why the original final dates were changed.

The rescheduled final was to take place on an all-weather astroturf pitch.

“Real Tubber is proud to support these players in their decision and right to sit their State Oral exams without distraction or compromise and will continue to support and stand up for the rights of the most important element of any club or association, its players,” it said.