Dublin ask to use Croke Park

Dublin chairman John Bailey has confirmed the county's intentions to use Croke Park for their opening National Football League game against All-Ireland champions Armagh. Interest in the game, he says, is almost sure to surpass the capacity of the county's ground at Parnell Park.

Arrangements will have to be finalised with Croke Park officials over the coming weeks, but Bailey is confident the attendance on February 2nd would justify opening GAA headquarters. Parnell Park has a capacity of around 10,000, where the league game could attract more than 30,000.

"We simply feel Parnell Park won't be able to take the crowd for that game," said Bailey. "And that's the main reason behind this move. But we'd also be looking to get up to 10,000 kids to the game as well, which would be a great opportunity to promote the game in Dublin."

It is clear, however, that an attendance in excess of 20,000 would be required for it to be feasible to open Croke Park. Earlier this month the Leinster Council announced that their hurling semi-finals would be moved to other venues because of the prohibitive cost of hiring Croke Park.

According to their figures, a crowd of around 40,000 would be required for Croke Park to make economic sense, but the game between Offaly and Wexford could only be expected to attract in the region of 20,000. Kilkenny play the preliminary-round winners in the other semi-final.

Several years back Dublin moved their home league games out of Croke Park because of the cost involved. The case for Dublin and Armagh right now would be much stronger. Dublin helped create the record crowds at Croke Park this summer, while Armagh have traditionally attracted large crowds - and even more so now as All-Ireland champions.

If the move does prove successful, then Dublin may also look to play other home league games at Croke Park, most obviously their concluding game against Galway on April 6th.

As things stand, Croke Park is not due to stage another game until St Patrick's Day with the All-Ireland club finals, and it would then be closed again until the National Football League final on May 4th. And with Government funding for the redevelopment of the stadium running dry, the pressure for increased revenue has become more notable.

The Dublin County Board, meanwhile, have also written to all clubs reminding them that nominations for the position of new hurling manager must be received by December 6th. At this stage there is no clear-cut successor to Kevin Fennelly, though the county hope to fill the position before Christmas.

Applications for the position of Dublin director of hurling, a new senior position, will also close on December 6th with the announcement likely to come in the New Year.

Elsewhere, the appeal of Donegal football club St Eunan's of Letterkenny has once again been adjourned by the High Court. The club are contesting their expulsion from the county championship several months back for fielding an ineligible player, a controversy that continues to stall the conclusion of their competition.

Meanwhile, Nemo Rangers have told Limerick champions Monaleen that they are not interested in the toss of a coin to decide home advantage for next month's Munster club football championship final. As a result the game goes ahead in Killarney, on December 8th, as planned.

Monaleen, through to the decider for the first time, were prepared to gamble. Nemo claimed that with Páirc Uí Chaoimh and Páirc Uí Rinn unavailable on that date, they had nothing to offer.

The Limerick County Board has found itself in the "red" this season, showing losses averaging €450 a day. Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald will inform delegates at next Monday's convention that they had a deficit of €150,000 in the last financial year. That compares with a profit of €83,000 over the previous 12 months.

Income amounted to €796,742 and outgoings €946,082. For the first time expenditure on the county senior football team surpassed that of the hurlers, €155,099 as against €125,169.