THE WISE provincial council administrators, deeming this the worst weather to afflict pitches nationwide since the great snow fall of 1982, are primed to confirm blanket postponements of the 2010 Gaelic football opening weekend at lunch time today.

The FBD Insurance Connacht football competition has already been abandoned and rescheduled for Sunday, January 17th, with Ulster all but following them at the close of business yesterday.

“Due to hazardous driving conditions and having checked the weather forecast for the weekend (the) Connacht GAA Council has postponed the start of the FBD Insurance League until Sunday, 17th January,” read a statement.

The McKenna Cup up north has been pencilled in to take place next Wednesday, January 13th, under floodlights if, as expected, all pitches across the province are deemed unplayable later today. The Ulster Council had initially planned to hold off on a decision until tomorrow but will assist county panels and supporters with an announcement today.

The Leinster and Munster councils will also make official statements at lunch time.

“It looks bad with the snow today,” said Leinster Council chairman Séamus Howlin when asked about the situation across the midlands.

“You have Louth going down to Wicklow, to Baltinglass. They might never get out of there in the current conditions! Meath going to Longford won’t be too bad and Offaly to Kilkenny but DCU going to Westmeath could be dangerous. UCD going to Kildare is another worry as Newbridge is bad enough.”

Munster secretary Pat Fitzgerald adopted a similar opinion. “It is a difficult situation as this is uncharted territory. I’ve never seen such a lengthy spell of unplayable pitches. It is fine in Limerick today but expected to be minus 10 by tonight.”