by Orla Bannon

Brendan Rodgers is hoping Slaughtneil can give the GAA a fixtures headache by making it to both All-Ireland club finals on St Patrick's Day.

The Derry club are the first to win a provincial senior football and hurling club double since Cork giants St Finbarr's in 1980.

However they've broken new ground by achieving an historic treble as their camogs are also Ulster champions for 2016.

Rodgers says it's Slaughtneil's "ambition" to give Croke Park chiefs a scheduling problem by advancing to both showpiece All-Ireland deciders on St Patrick's Day.

"Obviously it's a scenario where you have to get there first," said the dual star, one of 12 players on both the hurling and football squads.

"We have three games to get there before it's a problem, with an All-Ireland football quarter-final before Christmas as well, but I wouldn't rule it out.

"It's definitely an ambition.

"It would be nice to give them that headache!"

If Slaughtneil are double-booked on St Patrick's Day, Rodgers says the GAA could move one of the All-Ireland club finals to Easter Sunday.

"Realistically why would you not play them on St Patrick's Day and Easter Sunday, they are only a few weeks apart.

"It is two big holidays, two big games, but it'll only be an issue if and when we're there."

Slaughtneil play the Leinster hurling champions, either Cuala (Dublin) or O'Loughlin Gaels (Kilkenny) in the All-Ireland semi-final on February 4.

In football, they play first-time London champions St Kiernan's in Greenford, London on December 10/11 in an All-Ireland quarter-final.

St Vincent's (Dublin) or Rhode (Offaly) will be waiting in an All-Ireland semi-final on February 11.

The Allianz League hurling semi-finals are scheduled for Easter Sunday on April 16, traditionally staged as a double-bill at Semple Stadium.

Croke Park could be available for an All-Ireland club final, but the GAA will only discuss the fixture clash if it arises.

"That is a matter for the Central Competitions Control Committee and they will review it after the upcoming games are played," stated a GAA spokesperson.

Rodgers is only 22 years old and has already won three Derry SFC titles in-a-row and two Ulster SFC titles in three years.

He's also played in their four-in-a-row of county hurling titles and last month they beat Loughgiel to become the first Derry club to win the Ulster SHC crown.

He felt Sunday's provincial football final victory over Kilcoo, winning 0-12 to 0-9 in the Athletic Grounds, was the best of the lot.

"I think this is the sweetest yet because you know you've done something special.

"You've done something that might go down in history for a while and that maybe won't be broken for a while.

"It will be years before we can look back and realise what we achieved.

"You play hurling and football and camogie for the enjoyment and winning is part of the enjoyment, that's what you work hard for.

"To be the first to do anything is a really nice thing. Maybe we'll get to relax for a few weeks, you never know!"

Tweet

Most Read Stories