THE ULSTER hurling final between Antrim and Down, scheduled for Casement Park in Belfast on Sunday, is unlikely to go ahead because of the roadblocks and unrest in Northern Ireland. Many other sporting events, including racing, golf, soccer, athletics and cycling, are also under threat.

On Tuesday night hurlers trying to get to their training sessions were prevented from arriving at their destinations by roadblocks, burning vehicles and other obstacles. Last night officials of the Down County Board of the GAA said it would be well-nigh impossible for Down players to get to Casement Park for the match. Hurling in Down is almost entirely confined to the Ards Peninsula which adds to the difficulties of getting to Belfast.

Earlier this week players from Belfast who set out to attend training session in Loughgiel in Antrim failed to reach the training ground. The Antrim County Board decided to hold separate training sessions in Belfast and Loughgiel but that failed to solve the problem for some players who were turned back at roadblocks and from the routes of Orange marches.

Hurlers, with their distinctive playing equipment and jerseys in cars, decided not to risk being searched by vigilantes who would immediately be in a position to identify them.

Similarly, Down players living or working in Belfast failed to reach the Ballycran training grounds in the Ards Peninsula on Tuesday evening and reporters could not watch training sessions because of blocked-roads and marching bands.

One of the first casualties of the current unrest was the scheduled football challenge match between Dublin and Armagh at Parnell Park which was cancelled when Armagh officials phoned to say that they would not be able to travel.

Several other sporting events are also likely to be called off, including one of the biggest race meetings of the year in the north - the Down Royal meeting near Lisburn. Entries were mainly from the Republic of Ireland and Britain but even if the owners, trainers and jockeys were willing to travel in present circumstances it is doubtful if they could reach the course or be certain of getting away again.

This could mean serious financial losses for the Down Royal course. They were due to stage two of the most important races of the year in Northern Ireland - the Derby and Oaks. Yesterday the course manager Michael Todd said the cancellation of the meeting would be "a sporting and financial disaster. It would have been our biggest meeting for years," he said.

The fact that 24 of the horses due to start are from stables in the Republic and the other two from Britain means that one of the major racing events in the entire Irish calendar, the Ulster Harp Derby, is most unlikely to take place.

Those attending the North of Ireland amateur golf championship in Portrush on the Antrim coast have also been inconvenienced. An enthusiast who lives within 10 miles of the course, had to make a 50-mile detour to reach it yesterday. The British Seniors Open championship scheduled for Portrush at the end of the month is not expected to go ahead.

With so many roads blocked, cycling is an obvious casualty and a number of races scheduled for the weekend have already been cancelled.

Soccer has also been hit and a planned visit by Manchester United to play Portadown is almost certain to be cancelled or postponed. Visits from St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians to play Cliftonville and Portadown within the next week have been called off.

Glasgow Celtic have decided to cancel their proposed friendly fixture against Dundalk on Wednesday, July 24th at Oriel Park. It is believed the decision not to play the game was taken at a meeting at Parkhead yesterday.