GAELIC GAMES:DUBLIN ARE currently under the spotlight for disciplinary reasons so a trip to Crossmaglen was always going to pull in a sizeable crowd from the south Armagh region along with the hardcore travelling support.

But everyone left on a downer, and out of pocket, after a late call by Longford referee Derek Fahy to postpone the contest, at 1.40pm, because of "surface water" on the Rangers pitch.

The Dublin and Armagh camps disagreed with the decision.

Both managers, Paul Caffrey and Peter McDonnell, could be seen remonstrating with Fahy, while standing on the allegedly waterlogged field, at around 1.25pm.

The decision was primarily criticised for its lack of leeway as Dublin county board secretary John Costello explained: "We were hoping they could have waited a half an hour but the referee made the decision on health and safety grounds. The replay has been confirmed from Croke Park as back here on Wednesday week at 6.30pm."

At least that was sorted out quickly. But then you look around St Oliver Plunkett's Park and realise there are no floodlights. So that may yet be reviewed.

It's the second time during the National League that Dublin have been forced to reschedule. The backlog also ensures three games in a week for both teams.

"Yeah, but they do that in the (English soccer) premiership every week," said McDonnell. "I'm not in disagreement with that, neither are our players. We can deal with that."

McDonnell's panel trotted past without so much as a drop of spent sweat. Enda McNulty seemed particularly chirpy; his dodgy hamstring should clear up by next week. Ditto Ronan Clarke and Martin O'Rourke.

"I'm disappointed," McDonnell added. "Yes it is a wet ground but from the referee's inspection to now there's been a very dramatic change in the surface of the pitch.

"I know there are health and safety issues at stake and the welfare of the players is paramount but a point was well made; matches have been played in worse conditions this year.

"I got a phonecall earlier saying there was a heavy shower and that there was surface water there and at that point in time it most certainly wasn't safe but it seems to be drying out now."

Ironically, a few hailstones peppered the loitering reporters before the sun streaked through again. It certainly looked playable.

"The referee had a decision to make," added McDonnell. "He gave the impression that he was time-bound in relation to this decision but if he had waited for another 30 minutes we would have had a different type of day."

There were two more duties before the early trek back home: talk to Paul Caffrey and find out what will be done about the money taken on the gate; it was a cash game after all and we witnessed many disgruntled people being handed programmes as proof of entry.

And the Dubs will hardly brave the midweek rush-hour in huge numbers.

"It's free entrance for the next match," said the Armagh PRO Patrick Óg Nugent. "Because it was cash on the stiles there was no way of providing a refund. Obviously it is going to be a win-win for somebody who did come today but there was nothing we can do about it."

We just caught Caffrey exiting the away dressing-room. Not surprisingly, he didn't break stride at the sight of dictaphones, merely shrugged his shoulders.

"Game over, lads, good luck!"

Good luck, Pillar.