Over 50% of Fermanagh and Western League fixtures are already completed

DESPITE the fact that there are four extra sets of fixtures in the Division One of the Fermanagh and Western League this season, at this point it would appear that the 2021-22 is well on schedule to finish on time.

To date 321 of the 571 games across all six divisions have been completed, equating to 56.7% overall.

In the first division 101 of the 182 games (55.5%) have been completed, in division two 49 of the 72 (68.1%) have been played and in the third tier 34 out of 63 games (54%) have been completed.

The picture is pretty similar in the reserve leagues with 55% (55 of 110) completed in division one, 55.6% (40 of 72) in division two and 62.5% (45 of 72) completed in division three.

It’s the exception rather than the rule that half the fixtures in the Fermanagh and Western League should be completed before Christmas.

Match secretary Malcolm McVitty said there were a number of reasons for things being on schedule.

“Good weather has been a major factor but also the clubs’ willingness and cooperation in contacting myself when there has been referees’ shortages has certainly played a part, “ he said.

“Games have been changed to Thursday, Friday and Monday nights, there has been a lot more cooperation between clubs.

“There has been more flexibility and consensus among clubs to get games completed. If teams are struggling to get teams out quite often it can suit both parties to change games.

“I have been telling some clubs that if you don’t move a game there could be no referee which is helping to focus minds.

“So far so good is very much the message and to be over 50% at this time of the year is extraordinary.”

With 14 teams competing in the top flight this season, the league’s management committee took the decision to start Division One two weeks early and that essentially meant that the four extra set of fixtures were already completed before the entire league got underway on the traditional third Saturday in August.

It was also decided that rather than producing a full set of fixtures for the season that the match secretary would issue them in blocks of two or three weeks due to ongoing threat of Covid.

That has given McVitty added flexibility and has proved advantageous in the completing of games.

“Scheduling fixtures on a two or three weeks basis has in my opinion also been beneficial,” continued the match secretary.

“It means I can work around teams that are still in the likes of the Junior Cup and those that have been knocked out.”

While delighted how things are progressing, Mr McVitty is mindful of the fact that given the unpredictably of the weather in this country things could go pear-shaped very quickly.