GAA TAKING LAST EIGHT TO HEADQUARTERS ONCE AGAIN

GAA chiefs have shrugged off calls to move the All-ireland football quarter-finals outside Croke Park and fixed two double headers at HQ for the weekend after next.

First up on Saturday week at Croke Park is the meeting of Derry and Clare (3.45pm). This will act as the curtain raiser to Dublin’s encounter with Cork (6pm). Both games will be on Sky Sports.

Former Kerry star Darran

O’sullivan had called for the Dublin/cork and Kerry/mayo quarter-finals to be fixed for Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a double header.

There were also various calls on social media yesterday for the last eight ties to be moved to provincial venues in terms of atmosphere and with soaring hotel prices in the capital. But the pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The second part of a bumper weekend of football in Dublin will see Armagh and Galway go head to head on Sunday week at Croke Park (1.45pm). Kerry and Mayo will lock horns afterwards at 4pm with RTE screening the muchanticipated double header.

The All-ireland football semifinal dates have also been decided by the GAA’S Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC).

The winners of Clare and Derry have been fixed to meet whoever emerges from Armagh/galway on

Saturday, July 9 at Croke Park (5.30pm).

GAA chiefs have fixed the Tailteann Cup final as the curtain raiser to this one, probably in anticipation of a bigger attendance the following day at what will potentially be Dublin’s last four tie.

The semi-final featuring the winners of Dublin/cork and Mayo/ Kerry is set for Sunday, July 10 at Croke Park.