Carr: Clubs have only themselves to blame

Down legend Ross Carr has come down firmly in favour of the county team over last week’s fixture issue

CLONDUFF manager Ross Carr has leapt to the defence of Down manager Eamonn Burns following the postponement of a selection of league matches last Friday night.

A round of fixtures was due to be played as starred games, but the majority were postponed after complaints from clubs who would be missing their county men, a move that garnered no sympathy from Carr.

“Down have taken a lot of stick over this issue and it’s not their fault,” said the Hilltown man.

“The schedule was set out months ago and everyone knew it, so clubs complaining about it have no reason to complain.

“Clubs had an input on whether they would accept the schedule or not and there were no dissenters about last weekend, none whatsoever.

“Everyone knew the county team were going away for the weekend. Everyone knew that Eamonn wanted this round of games starred.

“I think what has happened is that some clubs that are not going well have used this as an excuse and said that we’re not playing without our county players.”

Carr is a worthy spokesperson on the issue as the former Mourne county manager has been on both sides of the fence, and he can’t understand why anyone would criticize Burns on this particular issue.

“Eamonn Burns is a victim in this, he is totally innocent of any wrong-doing,” Carr said of his former teammate.

“The blame lies with the clubs who are all of a sudden kicking up when something doesn’t suit them.

“Where’s the guarantee that you will have the county players in two months when these games are refixed anyway?”

The postponements ruled out a top of the table clash between leaders Burren and Clonduff.

Carr said he was delighted with how his side has started the season, especially the battling qualities that they have shown.

“Apart from the Castlewellan game, when we got a bit of a trimming, there hasn’t been a kick of the ball in any of the other ones, apart from the Ballymartin game.

“The other five games we’ve either won by a point or two, lost by a point or it’s been a draw.

“The opposition would have felt that they were very bit as good as us in the ones we won, and likewise we probably have the same argument in the ones we dropped points in.

“What we have done, which is pleasing from a management point of view, is be competitive.

“As long as you are competitive you have a chance, it then boils down to decision-making, the execution of skills and chances taken. At the minute I feel we are in a good place.”