GROUNDS FOR DELAY
Dub chief hails ‘common sense’ venue deferral
DUBLIN chairman Sean Shanley says the decision to defer an announcement on the venue for their opening game of the 2018 football Championship ‘makes sense’.
The Leinster Council was expected to confirm details for Dublin’s May 26/27 tie against Offaly or Wicklow on Wednesday night.
But in a surprising move it was decided to hold off a de- cision until it’s known exactly who they’ll be playing.
Offaly and Wicklow are thought to be keen to host Dublin but Wicklow’s base in Aughrim may be deemed too small with a mere 8,500 capacity and just 2,500 seats.
Dublin began their last two Leinster campaigns with trips to O’moore Park (2017) and Nowlan Park (2016) having played all of their Championship games at Croke Park between 2007 and 2015. Shanley (inset) said he expects the three-ina-row All-ireland winners to be handed another road trip and isn’t concerned about the lack of concrete details.
“There’s no real point in saying it will be in one place or the other until they see exactly who has come through that first game,” he said. “It makes sense to hold off because grounds have to be capable of taking the crowd and safety is obviously a big issue. I would think it’s a common sense decision.” Offaly face Wicklow on May 12/13 in Portlaoise as part of a double header with the Louth v Carlow match.
That could leave as little as 13 days for Dublin supporters to make travel or accommodation arrangements and for the host venue and local town to put its own plans in place.
The Leinster Council has taken a financial hit on moving Dublin out of Croke Park in the last two seasons though Shanley said another road trip is likely.
He added: “I would think so, yeah. That said, I’m sure Wicklow might like to get a run in Croke Park too. Maybe Offaly feel the same. I don’t know.”