Share
4th January 2026
06:58pm GMT
The Walsh Cup quarter-final between Westmeath and Kilkenny descended into chaos on Sunday as Kilkenny refused to play.
The game, which was originally scheduled to be played at The Downs GAA grounds, was switched at 11.30am due to pitch concerns because of poor weather.
This meant players were redirected to St Loman’s GAA club, seven miles away from the original venue, and though Kilkenny arrived at the venue ready to play, chaos ensued.
The club’s grass pitch was seemingly unavailable, meaning St Loman’s offered up an artificial surface for the match.
Kilkenny refused, with their players conducting a pre-match warm-up in a gravel area near the changing rooms while officials looked for a solution.
Just one minute before the match was due to start, it was called off, and Westmeath advanced following a coin toss.
The few hundred spectators that have gathered for the match were left stunned.
It wasn’t the only match to be decided by coin toss on Sunday; Offaly and Galway also won by that method due to matches being called off due by weather.
