THE ULSTER Council has no plans to postpone Sunday’s hurling championship semi-final between Down and London despite the Exiles being scheduled to face Armagh in the Nicky Rackard Cup a day earlier.

London shocked Derry in the Ulster quarter-final to reach the last four but may now be forced to hand a walkover to the Mourne County men.

Last Sunday the Exiles defeated Sligo in the Rackard Cup to set up a meeting with Armagh in Crossmaglen this Saturday.

And as the county’s management team and players feel they have a better chance of progressing in the third-tier competition they will fulfil that fixture.

An Ulster Council official confirmed the provincial semi-final fixed for Casement Park would not be postponed meaning London may have to forfeit that game and a chance to reach their first provincial final.

London GAA officials had hoped the Ulster championship fixtures could be altered as the competition has no bearing on the All-Ireland championship itself. Antrim go directly into the Ulster final but also compete in the Leinster championship.

London county board chairman Tommy Harrell said it’s a “huge penalty to pay for success”.

“I’m not aware of an inter-county side ever being asked to play two such important games in consecutive days,” he said. “The Ulster council has been good for the development of hurling in London over the years but this situation could have an impact on our future relationship with them.”

The London hurling management and playing panel will meet tomorrow night to decide if they will attempt to field a side for Sunday’s game with Down.

When contacted Down county officials said they were unaware of the fixture problem and had assumed Sunday’s semi-final would take place as scheduled.