Kettle says Dubs and London tie is a runner

DUBLIN GAA chairman Andy Kettle is ‘confident’ that a novel preChampionship football challenge match with London in Ruislip will go ahead. Talks have been underway since Christmas following a suggestion by London that they host Dublin on the May Bank Holiday weekend. The 2013 Connacht finalists believe it will be a unique marketing opportunity, pitting the capital cities of Ireland and England against each other, as well as providing quality opposition before the Championship. Dubs chief Kettle said the main stumbling block is a round of club championship fixtures in Dublin which are scheduled to go ahead the same weekend. But he said he’s optimistic that enough games can be moved to allow for county players to be cleared to face the Exiles. ‘We would certainly hope to fulfil that fixture,’ said Kettle. ‘We have to take into account that it would be a club championship weekend in Dublin. So we need the CCC (Competitions Control Committee) to facilitate us in terms of fixing teams with county players to play earlier. ‘But it’s something we would like to do. It would be good for the lads to get over to Ruislip and it would be good for London. There is no down side to it. I would be confident that it will happen. ‘London are leading the charge on this, it’s their gig. We’re happy to facilitate them by providing the opposition.’ Meanwhile, Kettle described the latest Spring Series attendance figures as ‘healthy’. Fears were expressed for the future of the series after a dip in attendances last year with just 10,825 turning out for Dublin’s football League tie with Down. However, in three games so far this year, the Dubs have attracted crowds of 26,487, 19,626 and 20,525. That’s still significantly down on the average attendance figure of 29,500 for the series’ maiden season in 2011 though Kettle isn’t complaining. ‘You’d always like more but they are healthy attendance figures, no doubt about that,’ he said.