CLARA and Portlaoise's AIB Leinster club football semi-final fell victim to atrocious weather in Portlaoise yesterday, with the re-fixture set to be finalised by Leinster Council tonight.

Referee Joe Curley made the call after just three minutes of play of the second-half, with Clara leading by a point - 1-5 to 0-7, with Stephen Deehan netting their first-half goal.

However, the signs of damage to the pitch were visible before half-time and Curley spent much of the break taking soundings from both team's management about the possibility of abandoning the match.

"Both wanted to continue," explained Leinster Council chief executive, Michael Delaney. "Even as he (Curley) finished the first half, he said the pitch was very playable. But there was a terrible shower at half-time and that finished it off all together. Player's safety is the priority."

After an interval break of approximately 20 minutes in which the torrential rain intensified, the players re-appeared for the second-half and Curley inspected the pitch, consulting with fellow officials at either end but decided to re-started the match.

Visibly, the pitch began to cut up with large puddles forming in parts and slipstream trailing players as they ran and after Portlaoise player, Craig Rogers kicked a wide, Curley signaled that he was abandoning the match for the safety of the players.

"The referee said to me at half-time that he'd give it a go but that if it got any worse, he'd pull it," said Clara manager, Pat Flanagan outside his side's dressing-room afterwards. "Somebody may have been hurt there. We need to look after the safety of players."

"It's an act of God," agreed Portlaoise boss, John Mulligan. "That's it. The ref did the right thing and he called it off and that's it. The way things were going there - God forbid - a fella could break a leg or something. That's the last thing you want. Absolutely no complaints."

Delaney confirmed that Leinster Council will decide tonight where and when the re-fixture to take place, though both managers are expecting the match to go ahead next Saturday in Portlaoise. Adding to the mix is the fact that the Leinster Club SHC final (Tullamore v Ballyhale) is scheduled for Portlaoise next Sunday.

"To my knowledge, its back here next Saturday but I don't know for definite," said Mulligan. "It should be back here. But that's for another day. It will be another day and another battle and we have to be ready for it."

"I haven't a clue when it's going to be on but if it's on tomorrow night, we're going to be ready for it," said Flanagan. "We expect to do well and we expect to go on to the next step."

- Conor McKeon