Unfortunate pigeon delays Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes’ Europa League adventures

The Aberdeen lads will be hoping for no repeats on their rescheduled flight.

The Dons were ready and waiting at the airport, this morning, and bringing a 3-0 lead to Latvia. The Scots beat FK Ventspils in the first leg of their Europa League qualifier, thanks in large part to goals from Irish players Adam Rooney and Jonny Hayes. Both players were set to travel with their squad this morning but plans were put on hold for over eight hours. Unfortunately, the team's plane struck a pigeon en-route to Aberdeen and needed to go in for repairs upon a safe landing. According to unflustered Dons boss Derek McInnes, it is just one of those things. The club had not planned to train at Ventspils' ground anyway so the club's preparations won't be too disrupted. McInnes told the Scottish Sun:

"So we are going back to Pittodrie to train there and will return to the airport this afternoon. Our timings will be the same this afternoon, we will eat and rest at the same time. "We have every confidence we’ll get away this afternoon."

Uefa rules state that clubs must be in their host country at least 24 hours before a game but Aberdeen should get a pass on this one. As for the pigeon. No pass. Listen to our new GAA podcast with Colm Parkinson. Click here to subscribe on iTunes. https://soundcloud.com/user-787320910/the-gaa-hour-with-colm-parkinson-tyrone-and-galway-are-back-but-these-dubs-are-not-going-away