Storm Chandra flooding: Sports clubs across Northern Ireland eye weekend disruption

Homes, businesses, schools and roads right across Northern Ireland faced disruption this week after weather warnings for wind and rain across Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

But the weekend will see the impact of the extreme weather on sports pitches, with some teams having to call games off.

To complicate matters a yellow-level warning for rain is in place from midnight last night until 6pm today (Friday), making the full impact of rain on some grounds uncertain for tomorrow.

Donaghcloney Mill Cricket Club chairman Keith Ogle says their grounds have been under five feet of water this week after the River Lagan burst its banks.

"This is the worst it has been in 100 years," he said.

"It is devastating, there is a lot of professional machinery, tractors and stuff like that, all underwater."

Asked if their insurance will cover it, he replies: "We hope so."

There is an eight foot high bank built around the Lagan but the river seems to have broken through, he said.

A new development of houses nearby includes a flood-defence type wall, which has also hindered the water escaping, he said.

He does not know when the pitches will recover.

In Portadown Annagh United Football Club manager Ciaran McGurgan said the club - on the flood plain of the River Bann - suffered an "awful flood" several years ago.

This time their pitch was flooded on Wednesday and Thursday, although the water has subsided.

"But look, we don't know what the next week's going to bring here,” he said. “If it continues to rain, that's the problem."

He hopes they will be able to play as normal this weekend.

Plans to build a £60m flood defence wall along Bann have been pushed back a year, he adds.

Speaking on Friday afternoon, Newry RFC Chairman Paul Little said their pitches went under two feet of water when the River Clanrye burst its banks this week.

"The water has subsided now, but I don't know what it'd be like this evening with all this rain again," he said.

There has been significant building development nearby which he says has "displaced a lot of water" and is now causing problems

The club has called off its planned game with Coleraine this weekend.

Fortunately, they built their club house slightly higher than originally planned - the water came within six inches of it this time.

He has been calling on the Rivers Agency to dredge the river, as he says it has become very obstructed by sediment, twigs and grass.

At Ballymena RFC, head coach John Nicholl said their pitches flooded on Tuesday and Wednesday when the River Braid burst its banks.

He has no recollection of flooding ever as bad.

"No, not to that extent, with the river water coming on to the grounds - not as far as I can remember anyway, and I played at Ballymena for years."

Instead of training this week, their sponsor Galgorm Resort gave the team a very welcome spa day.

They intend to play on the pitch this weekend.

"It will be a bit soft under foot, but generally, the drainage is pretty good," he added.