Portadown and Omagh will now play on Wednesday 5 March

Portadown and Omagh Town have been told they cannot play their Premier Division game on Tuesday 4 March because it clashes with the County Antrim Shield final.

The teams had agreed to rearrange the game for Tuesday after it had to be postponed on Saturday as Shamrock Park was flooded.

However, they have been told by the Irish League that the game must be switched to Wednesday.

League chiefs ruled the league game could not be played on the same night as the County Antrim Shield final between Ballymena United and Glentoran.

"We are not happy. Omagh and Portadown had agreed on Saturday to rearrnage it for Tuesday night and the supporters were informed," said Bill Emerson, Portadown's commercial manager.

'Important cup games'

"When we informed the league they said the County Antrim Association would not hear tell of it.

"How Portadown playing Omagh at Shamrock Park is going to interfere with the County Antrim Shield final in Belfast is beyond me.

"It is not going to take any supporters or publicity away from the final.

"Portadown and Omagh have important cup games on Saturday so we both wanted to get this game played as soon as possible."

League statement

An Irish League spokesman said Portadown and Omagh arranged to play on Tuesday without contacting the league.

"The County Antrim FA rule that no other fixture be played on the same night as the final," said the IFL official.

"The clubs involved were not in any way forced to play on Wednesday night and were given alternative dates which they themselves deemed unsuitable"

Portadown duo Kyle Neill and Richard Clarke will miss the rearranged Omagh game because of suspensions.

So too will Omagh's Ivan Sproule and James Quigley.

However, all four would then be clear to play in the Nationwide Irish Cup quarter-finals at Shamrock Park on Saturday 8 March.

Portadown meet Glenavon in a Mid-Ulster derby at Shamrock Park while Omagh Town entertain holders Linfield.