Seating woes likely if Dubs play in Park

HUGE CONTROVERSY could yet surround Dublin’s travels outside the capital for a provincial championship game for the second year running. The reigning Leinster and All-Ireland champions await the winners of the Wexford v. Carlow preliminary round game, with the Dubs scheduled to travel to Innovate Wexford Park in the event of a Model county success.

Last year the decision to take the Laois v. Dublin game out of O’Moore Park, switching it to Nowlan Park in Kilkenny, led to major disquiet.

And now it has emerged that stand accommodation for the Dublin season ticket holders could yet determine where the fixture will be played.

Co. Chairman Derek Kent informed last week’s County Board meeting that Dublin has 3,000 season ticket holders, all of whom will be entitled to access to the covered stand for their county’s matches.

He added that it will considerably reduce the number of seats for home supporters in Innovate Wexford Park which has a stand capacity of just over 4,200.

And with complimentary tickets for sponsors also to be taken into consideration, it will leave considerably less than 1,000 tickets available for Wexford supporters.

Kent also informed the meeting that should Carlow qualify for the quarter-final, their game with Dublin would be transferred to Portlaoise owing to their lack of stand cover and seated accommodation in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Wexford P.R.O. P.J. Howlin confirmed on Thursday that the Chairman had raised the matter of stand cover for Dublin season ticket holders, although it’s still unlikely that the game would be moved from Wexford Park which has an overall capacity of just over 17,000, after a reduction under health and safety standards.

‘I’m not sure if the game will be taken out of Wexford but it’s quite clear we will not be able to accommodate the demand from Wexford supporters for accommodation in the covered stand,’ Howlin said.

‘What it really means is that home supporters will be sent to the uncovered seated terrace irrespective of the weather. I really cannot remember what further explanations the Chairman gave to club delegates at the meeting, but it was stressed that the matter would be revisited at management level should Wexford qualify to play Dublin. At the moment there is no fixture,’ he added.