This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/football/irish/6256991.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Five Irish Cup matches called off Five Irish Cup matches called off
(about 3 hours later)
The Irish Cup games between Coleraine and Lisburn Distillery, Limavady and Carrick Rangers and Dungannon and Coagh United were called off on Saturday.The Irish Cup games between Coleraine and Lisburn Distillery, Limavady and Carrick Rangers and Dungannon and Coagh United were called off on Saturday.
The games at Windsor Park and Seaview were postponed on Friday. All three games fell victim to waterlogged pitches after downpours.
The Linfield v Oxford United Stars fifth round tie at Windsor has been postponed after high winds caused further damage to the North Stand. The games at Windsor Park and Seaview were postponed on Friday after damage was caused by high winds.
Crusaders' encounter with Lurgan Celtic at Seaview has also fallen victim because of the storm. The Linfield v Oxford United Stars tie was hit after further damage to the North Stand and Crusaders v Lurgan Celtic was also called off.
The IFA said it remained confident that N Ireland's friendly with Wales next month at Windsor Park will go ahead.The IFA said it remained confident that N Ireland's friendly with Wales next month at Windsor Park will go ahead.
The Seaview contest had to be postponed because a wall near to the ground had been blown towards a nearby Railway track.The Seaview contest had to be postponed because a wall near to the ground had been blown towards a nearby Railway track.
The Crusaders game has been provisionally rescheduled for Tuesday night but a new date for Linfield's cup opener has yet to be arranged.The Crusaders game has been provisionally rescheduled for Tuesday night but a new date for Linfield's cup opener has yet to be arranged.
An IFA spokesman told the BBC that emergency work was required to stabilise the North Stand roof at Windsor Park but due to the high winds in recent days it was unsafe for the work to be carried out.An IFA spokesman told the BBC that emergency work was required to stabilise the North Stand roof at Windsor Park but due to the high winds in recent days it was unsafe for the work to be carried out.
"A panel was dislodged on the roof of the north stand and it was unsafe to carry out the work in the current weather conditions," said an IFA spokesman."A panel was dislodged on the roof of the north stand and it was unsafe to carry out the work in the current weather conditions," said an IFA spokesman.
"As for the friendly international against Wales, the Association is confident that the game will go ahead as planned and we will continue to prepare as usual for the fixture.""As for the friendly international against Wales, the Association is confident that the game will go ahead as planned and we will continue to prepare as usual for the fixture."
It is understood that engineers have identified the work that is required and have estimated that it will take them one week to carry out the repairs.It is understood that engineers have identified the work that is required and have estimated that it will take them one week to carry out the repairs.
Structural engineers have also been commisioned by the IFA to carry out a report to assess the extent of the long-term work that needs to be carried out.Structural engineers have also been commisioned by the IFA to carry out a report to assess the extent of the long-term work that needs to be carried out.
Linfield boss David Jeffrey was disappointed at the game being called off but he believes the right decision was made.Linfield boss David Jeffrey was disappointed at the game being called off but he believes the right decision was made.
"Everyone is built up for the cup - there is so much romance about it and it's the blue-riband trophy of Irish League football," he said."Everyone is built up for the cup - there is so much romance about it and it's the blue-riband trophy of Irish League football," he said.
"However, there is absolutely no way the game could be considered as going ahead.""However, there is absolutely no way the game could be considered as going ahead."