Kilmore undeterred

Reiteration of the GAA's policy against the opening of grounds and facilities to other sports will not deter the Kilmore club in Roscommon from forwarding their original motion next year.

The document that outlines the position of the association, first issued at Congress, has now been sent to all clubs in the country and included in the 10-point declaration is the argument against making the exception to open Croke Park and other major grounds. It is claimed it would make the application of the policy for an "essential permanent presence and identity" untenable on the basis that it could be justifiably argued that what is permitted in major stadiums may be also be allowed in club or county grounds.

Kilmore announced earlier this week that it had already decided to again forward their motion to the county convention at the end of the year which would, if passed at Congress, give central council the power to amend the contentious Rule 42 prohibiting other sports in association grounds. Tommy Kenoy, who drafted the original motion, is still convinced there is a need to open Croke Park.

"This is the same specific motion that we started with," he said yesterday. "Our feeling in the club is that Croke Park is like a grade A hotel that is closed for six months of the year because it doesn't like some of its customers.

"There is no doubt that the argument was weakened by the announcement of the £60 million grant. But I am disappointed that the argument is still being made against opening Croke Park because of the fear it might lead to opening other grounds."

Meanwhile, Croke Park has announced a list of three potential venues for the National Hurling League final on Sunday week. Kilkenny against Clare and Tipperary against Galway are the line ups for this weekend's semi-finals and the winners will progress to play in Thurles, Pairc Ui Chaoimh or Limerick.

If it's Kilkenny against Galway or Clare against Galway, the venue will be Thurles. If Clare come through and play Tipperary the venue will be Limerick, while if Kilkenny come through and play Tipperary the venue will be Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The latter decision, however, hasn't gone down too well with Kilkenny. According to county secretary Pat Dunphy, the Cork venue is unsuitable for a number of reasons but there is the possibility it may yet be played in either Nowlan Park or Croke Park because of an agreement between the two. Prior meetings with Tipperary in 1977 (played in Thurles) and 1989 (played in Croke Park) mean Kilkenny still have the right for a home venue.

It was also announced yesterday that admission to Sunday's Football League finals between Cork and Westmeath (2.0) and Galway against Mayo (3.45) in Croke Park will be by cash payment at the stiles.

General stand admission is £10 and entry to Hill 16 is £5, while for students and senior citizens it is £3. Children unaccompanied will be admitted for £1 and children accompanied by a parent or guardian will be admitted free at special family stiles in the Cusack Stand.

There have also been two changes in this weekend's National Hurling League programme. Mayo against Longford and Wicklow against Kerry have been postponed until May 2nd and May 6th respectively. Also in division two, the Roscommon against Louth game has been cancelled with Roscommon receiving a walkover from Louth.

The All-Ireland Vocational Schools' Senior Football A final between Causeway Comprehensive and Ard Scoil Chiarain, Clara has been confirmed for Saturday at McDonagh Park, Nenagh (2.30).

The Vocational Schools' intercounty All-Ireland football final between Monaghan and Offaly, that was due to be played as part of the National Football League finals bill in Croke Park on Sunday, has been postponed following a request from Offaly.