Seamus McParland of Greenore GC will be informed today of a Government recommendation that he should withdraw from the Standard Life West of Ireland Championship at Rosses Point next week. Contact with the Leinster interprovincial will be made by Michael O'Donoghue, chairman of the Connacht Branch GUI.
As it happens, McParland is the only likely casualty of the foot-and-mouth crisis as far as the "West" is concerned. And should he decide to comply with the recommendation, it will mean a rather strange Easter for him, given that he would have been making his 30th appearance in the championship.
The three other Louth clubs in the restriction zone - Dundalk, Killinbeg and Cairnbeg - have no entries in the West. But Dundalk's Peter Tuite has been advised not to compete in the Connacht Youths' Championship at Strandhill this weekend.
Interestingly, where the West is concerned, there will be no restriction on competitors from Northern Ireland or Britain. And Andre Hogan is one of several British-based players who are making the journey to Rosses Point.
Hogan, a member of the West Hill club in Bagshot, Surrey, travelled across last weekend to represent Leitrim in the Inter-County Championship at Rosses Point. "He told us that every club in his bag was sprayed when he arrived in Dublin Airport," said Enda Lonergan, secretary of the Connacht Branch yesterday. "On that basis, we are satisfied that all the necessary precautions are being taken."
Lonergan added: "The Department of Agriculture notified GUI headquarters last weekend that any golfer residing within the restricted zone, should be advised not to travel to championships or inter-club matches. Naturally, we have taken that on board."
For their part, the Co Sligo club will be closing off the goods entrance to the club, on the hotel side of their grounds. And with all traffic channelled through the main entrance, they believe they can achieve maximum effectiveness from disinfectant pads.
They have also turned down a proposed visit by 20 members of a Dundalk golf society to their club. The deposit was refunded with the promise of an alternative date when the current crisis is over.
Meanwhile, natural concerns by head greenkeeper George Paterson about the condition of the course have been offset, somewhat, by a plum draw in the championship. Paterson, a one-handicapper who gained All-Ireland Senior Cup honours with Co Sligo in 1996 and 1997, has been drawn with Garth McGimpsey.
"It will be my first time playing with him and I'm looking forward to it as a real treat," said Paterson of the celebrated Bangor player, who captured the West on four occasions since 1984. Paterson added: "I'm fairly confident the course will be in fine shape for the championship."
The Ireland team to play Wales in a Boys international was named yesterday. It is as follows:
IRELAND (Rosslare GC, April 10th-11th) - E Arthurs (Forest Little), C Bowe (Tramore), D Briden (Gold Coast), N Kavanagh (Westport), C Montgomery (Malone), A McAllister (Portmarnock), C McNamara (Limerick), M McHugh (Ballinasloe). Non-playing captain: J Moloughney (Templemore). Manager: J Greene (Grange).
