Football qualifiers: The GAA's Games Administration Committee has defended its decision to postpone for a week the Derry-Dublin match. It had been expected that the second-round qualifier would be fixed for this coming weekend, but problems in finding a suitable venue forced the fixture back.
"One of the major considerations we took into account," according to Tony O'Keeffe, the chair of the GAC, which drew up the fixture list, "is that the Special Olympics opening ceremony is in Croke Park on Saturday and many of the GAA clubs in Dublin are providing volunteers. That was brought to our attention.
"I'm aware that Dublin appear to be getting an advantage, but Clones was the obvious venue, the biggest one in a suitable location. They're also used to dealing with big games.
"Croke Park is not available for the next two weekends because of the Special Olympics, and this ruled out tossing a coin for choice of venue, given that Dublin's home ground, Parnell Park, doesn't have a large enough capacity."
Complicating matters further was that two matches are already scheduled for Clones this weekend. Monaghan play Meath in the qualifiers on Saturday, while Down face Fermanagh in Sunday's Ulster championship semi-final.
"We decided against the combination of any two of the games on a double bill. The two qualifiers stand on their own and the Ulster Council is expecting a big crowd on Sunday."
O'Keeffe said the GAC had also had regard to the Derry-Kerry hurling qualifier this weekend. "I wouldn't say it was a major factor in the decision, but it was a consideration."
The Derry hurlers are down to play in Tullamore this Saturday, but the county board was unlikely to want any postponement of the footballers' match to accommodate the hurlers.
The Derry County Board reacted unhappily to the news. County PRO Gerry Donnelly said: "We are disappointed that we didn't get an alternative venue and that the game is not on next weekend, which would have been in our planning.
"Given what happened Dublin on Sunday, our best chance would have been to play next weekend. That has been taken away from us.
"We know that what we say and do about this matter will count for zilch, but we feel that we have to make a response to what people in the county see at best as an unreasonable turn of events. I know that it was very difficult for GAC to come up with an alternative, but we felt we were being very flexible. We were prepared to toss for home venue and prepared to go to an alternative venue, such as Navan, this Saturday."
Asked was the move seen as reflecting Dublin's commercial status within the GAA based on its ability to draw big crowds, Donnelly replied: "I don't think GAC made the decision for those reasons, but Dublin are more valuable than Derry at this point in time. Up in Bellaghy and Ballinderry and such places it will be hard to convince those people that we weren't stitched up."
Dublin will be viewed as lucky to have secured this dispensation. Only three days ago Clare hurlers had to line out against Galway in Ennis, where a one-point defeat ended their season. A postponement of even a day would have meant that captain Seán McMahon could have returned from suspension and played.
The rest of the confirmed qualifiers go ahead this weekend. Leitrim, Monaghan, Antrim and Clare are designated counties and therefore have home venue against Roscommon, Meath, Armagh and Offaly respectively. Carlow take on Tipperary in Thurles, also on Saturday.
The northwest derby between Sligo and Donegal will be staged at Ballybofey on Sunday.
The remaining match in the round will be the following Sunday between Cavan and the losers of this weekend's Down-Fermanagh Ulster semi-final.
ROUND TWO
Saturday, June 21st
Leitrim v Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon, 4.15
Antrim v Armagh, Casement Park, 4.15
Clare v Offaly, Cusack Park, Ennis, 4.15
Monaghan v Meath, Clones, 4.15
Carlow v Tipperary, Thurles, 3.30
Sunday, June 22nd
Donegal v Sligo, Ballybofey, 2.15
Saturday, June 28th
Derry v Dublin, Clones, 4.15
Sunday, June 29th
Fermanagh/Down v Cavan, Enniskillen/Newry, 3.0
All-Ireland HC Preliminary round
Saturday, June 21st
Derry v Kerry, Tullamore, 3.0
