ROSCOMMON SET SIGHTS ON MAJOR DR HYDE BOOST

ROSCOMMON is to make the upgrading of Dr Hyde Park a priority to ensure that it will be able to host future Connacht finals. The county’s ground reopened this year, the revamp costing in the region of €700,000, but while they have a pristine pitch, health and safety regulations forced a reduction in the capacity of the ground. As a result, it is no longer a viable option for the Connacht Council as a venue for the provincial football final, which was last held there in 2012. But county secretary Brian Carroll, in his annual report to convention, has declared that the board is now committed to making the improvements necessary to ensure that it will reach the 25,000 capacity threshold needed to host a Connacht final. ‘We now have probably one of the best pitches in the country and it is now a pleasure to go there. ‘It was shortlisted as one of the top six GAA pitches in the country this year. Our next challenge has got to be that we are able to host Connacht finals. ‘There is no point having a top quality surface without being able to host top games on it. ‘To host the Connacht final we need to be able to accommodate 25,000 spectators. That is something we now need to work on to get us to that figure as quickly as possible,’ vowed Carroll. Meanwhile, the GAA confirmed that Ulster club football champions Slaughtneil will be afforded an extra week to prepare for their AllIreland semi-final clash with Nemo Rangers. That game has been moved to February 24 to facilitate the club’s dual players in action for the club’s hurlers, who will play Na Piarsaigh in their semi-final on February 10.

THE OCI has welcomed the Government’s decision to restore its State funding with immediate effect. Minister for Sport Shane Ross approved the release of €300,000 that had been withheld for this year pending the outcome of the Moran Inquiry into the ticketing scandal at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the OCI implementing its reform agenda.