Donegal’s grounds for concern over Croker clash with Dubs
ANOTHER venue row is brewing after Donegal confirmed their intention to seek a meeting with the GAA over the decision to fix their All-Ireland quarter-final with Dublin in Croke Park.
They intend to use the meeting “to seek clarification on how any county may use a ground as both neutral and a home venue,” in the All-Ireland quarter-final series.
“The intention of the meeting is to ensure a level playing field for every team who will qualify for the All-Ireland Quarter-Final Group Stage and ensure that no team has any advantage over any other team,” a Donegal statement outlined last night.
Under rule, ‘Super 8s’ teams play one game in Croke Park and one each at home and away. There is no specific mention of a ‘neutral’ venue but Donegal feel that Croke Park should be classed as Dublin’s ‘home’ venue and are challenging their potential access to two games there.
The issue was raised last week by former manager Jim McGuinness while current Donegal manager Declan Bonner also feels teams are being disadvantaged by the anomaly. A GAA spokesperson said they noted Donegal’s statement and added that they would be happy to provide that clarification in the coming days.
Elsewhere, the GAA have opted to fix the Kerry/ Galway All-Ireland quarter-final first round match in opposition to the World Cup final on Sunday week, instead of Dublin and Donegal.
Dublin and Donegal are scheduled to anchor the Saturday evening programme in Croke Park with a 7pm throw-in, in keeping with other recent AllIreland quarter-finals involving the All-Ireland champions against Monaghan (2017) and Donegal (2016).
The World Cup final will kick off at the same time as the Kerry/Galway game, while the curtain-raiser will be decided once the pairings are known after this weekend’s action. Because of distance from Dublin, the Kerry/Galway game was always likely to have a Sunday afternoon slot instead of the later Saturday game. But it will be less convenient for travelling Donegal supporters seeking to return home that night. Meanwhile, Waterford GAA are preparing a statement to refute some of the allegations made by former Government Minister Martin Cullen in relation to the development of a stadium at the Waterford IT sports campus in Carriganore.
Speaking on WLR FM, the former Sports Minister was critical of the board for the handling of the stadium issue in the city more than a decade ago, the legacy of which has been heavily felt this year.
He claimed he was told at the time that there was no money to redevelop Walsh Park, they were in debt and they would struggle to raise even €1m to help get the project under way.
Cullen told the station: “I was left in a situation which I was astonished about, but I decided there must be more than one way to skin a cat.”
The former Minister said he opened negotiations with Waterford IT about developing a 25,000-capacity stadium which would cost in the region of €25m.
According to Cullen, the plan was for the GAA to sell Walsh Park and put the money towards the development which would be part-funded by the Department of Education and Sport.
“In my entire career, I was never asked to meet the county board in Waterford, even though I asked to meet them. Not once, ever.
“The county board wanted 100pc funding for Walsh Park, which wasn’t being given to any other stadium in the country.
“For somebody to use excuses and blame somebody else for their own failings is quite appalling.
“The county board must take responsibility for their stewardship. What happened this year is the responsibility of the GAA in Waterford,” added Cullen.
Cullen was referring to Waterford’s decison to switch their home Munster Championship games against Tipperary and Cork to the Gaelic Grounds and Semple Stadium because of Walsh Park capacity and safety issues.