Weather threatens to wreck Phelan’s Wicklow plans

London manager Eamonn Phelan 

By Damian Dolan

Eamonn Phelan could face going into the National Hurling League with a severely depleted panel, if the weather continues to contrive against the London hurling manager.

The Exiles open their Allianz Hurling League Division 2B campaign against Armagh at the Athletic Grounds on February 24, but Phelan could be down to the bare bones if Kilburn Gaels and Brothers Pearse are unable to fulfil their senior hurling championship fixture next weekend.

Their round 1 meeting at Ruislip last Sunday was called off due to a waterlogged pitch and has been reset for Goodmayes next Saturday (February 16). If the weather intervenes again, however, Phelan will be forced to rely on St Gabriels’ defeated All Ireland Club IHC hurlers turning out.

Phelan takes his panel to Ireland next weekend to play two challenge games against Wicklow seniors, and Kilburn v Pearses was the one game the London boss needed played in order to make up to 11 of new players legible to play against Armagh.

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