Football finals for Dublin regardless of contenders

The GAA's Games Administration Committee (GAC) has dispelled suggestions that the National Football League final on Sunday week might not be played at Croke Park.

Regardless of who wins Sunday's replay between Galway and Tyrone, they will be headed to Croke Park to play Kerry on May 2nd - provided a second replay is not necessary - where the Division Two final between Offaly and Down will act as the curtain raiser.

It was mooted that the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick would be considered if Galway beat Tyrone, primarily because of the convenience it would offer both the Galway and Kerry supporters.

It had also been questioned whether those two teams would bring a large crowd to Croke Park, where an attendance of 34,000 is considered necessary for the whole operation to be viable.

But details of the final have already been arranged, with 2.0 and 3.30 throw-in times for the Division Two and One deciders respectively. Ticket prices have also been set at €25 for both stands.

According to GAC secretary SeáÓ Laoire, the decision to fix the final for Croke Park on May 2nd wasn't made without losing sight of the possibility of the Tyrone-Galway game requiring a second replay. If that situation did occur, the second replay would take place the following Sunday, May 2nd, as a midweek fixture has already been ruled out as an option.

That has the potential of setting a championship-league conflict for Tyrone, should they advance, as they are scheduled to commence their championship on May 9th against Derry, a game just recently confirmed for Clones because of concerns over Omagh's ability to cater for the expected large crowds.

In the meantime, Galway and Tyrone have contrasting injury problems ahead of the eagerly awaited replay at Pearse Stadium.

Galway manager John O'Mahony has several first-choice players carrying injuries, his main concern being the ankle sprain sustained by forward Declan Meehan in last Sunday's draw, which has left him with little chance of starting on Sunday.

Seán Óg de Paor and Derek Savage are still getting treatment after last Sunday but are less of a concern, while it's still unclear whether Matthew Clancy will be available as he is due to start exams on Monday. So, like a week ago, O'Mahony won't finalise his team until just prior to throw-in.

Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, surprisingly, will have practically a full panel to choose from, despite their hectic schedule of recent weeks. Sunday's game will be their sixth consecutive weekend in action, with one of the league games postponed after the death of Cormac McAnallen, and they could be on the road for another two weekends in succession if they make the final.

Meanwhile, the Tyrone County Board has announced a new sponsorship deal with the mineral water company Rocwell, which ends the 10-year association with sponsors WJ Dolan.

The four-year deal with Rocwell is reported to be worth over £100,000 a year, and will carry through until the end of the 2007 championship. The company outbid at least six other parties for the right to become the official sponsors of the reigning All-Ireland and National League champions.

Elsewhere, the dates and venues have been announced for the All-Ireland colleges finals in both football and hurling. They begin on Saturday week, May 1st, with the B deciders both fixed for Navan: Cistercian, Roscrea, against St Patrick's, Maghera, in hurling (12.30) and Portlaoise CBS against St Louis, Kilkeel, in football (2.15).

The A finals will take place on the bank holiday Monday, May 3rd, in Parnell Park. St Raphael's, Loughrea, meet St Kieran's, Kilkenny, in the hurling decider (2.0) and St Patrick's, Navan, meet St Patrick's, Dungannon, in the football (3.40).

Datapac, sponsors of the third-level Fitzgibbon and Sigerson Cup competitions, have announced their hotshot selection in both football and hurling, a new venture which will also be honoured over the bank holiday weekend.

DATAPAC FOOTBALL TEAM: P Durcan (Sligo IT); E McGee (Sligo IT), D McCartan (Down), B Ó hAnnaidh (UCD); E O'Connor (Cork IT), S Kelly (QUB), K Cassidy (Sligo IT); M Moyles (Sligo IT), BJ Padden (QUB); C Toye (Sligo IT), P Finlay (Sligo IT), N Joyce (Sligo IT); B Sheehan (Cork IT), J Sheridan (UCD), A Fegan (QUB).

DATAPAC HURLING TEAM: R O'Neill (UCC); J Tennyson (UCC), K Coogan (Waterford IT), JJ Delaney (Waterford IT); T Kenny (UCC), S Lucey (UCD), K Rossiter (Waterford IT); M Walsh (Waterford IT), T Walsh (UCC); K Murphy (CCFE), C Phelan (Waterford IT), J Phelan (Waterford IT); J Fitzpatrick (UCC), E Kelly (Limerick IT), R Jacob (Waterford IT).