Venues for finals deferred

THE GAA'S Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) have deferred a decision on the venues for the divisional finals across football and hurling until the actual pairings are known.

While the Croke Park pitch is under a thin, white sheeting to help promote grass growth, it remains in contention to stage one or both of the finals - although it seems inevitable they will be fixed for a smaller, provincial venue.

"We have decided to defer the decision of league final venues until after the last round," explained GAA president Nickey Brennan. "There are several combinations possible, particularly in division two of the football, which could make a very exciting final.

"But this is not related to the pitch work going on here in Croke Park. This started last Sunday morning, when they stripped a top layer of soil off the field, opened breathing cores and planted a pre-germinated seed.

"That's now covered in white sheeting, which helps speed up the growth of the grass.

"That's due to be taken up Thursday of next week, after which the grass will be cut, and continued to be fed.

"But it would be available for the league final, absolutely. So the notion of it being played here is still on the agenda.

"We've held off on the final decision until we know the pairings."

The football league finals are scheduled for the weekend of April 25th/26th - with the Division Three and Division Four finals down for the 25th, and the Division One and Two finals on the 26th.

There could, however, be some adjustment there.

The hurling finals are scheduled for May 2nd/3rd - although Croke Park is an even more unlikely option here as it has been set aside for a potential rugby European Heineken Cup semi-final meeting between Munster and Leinster on May 2nd.

Brennan was speaking at the launch of the 2009 FBD All-Ireland GAA Golf Challenge, which is now in its 10th year.

The challenge is carried out along the same format as the GAA All-Ireland championships, with the early rounds including around 120 clubs challenging each other for provincial success and, ultimately, an all expenses paid place in the final at Faithlegg Golf Club in Waterford in September.

Further information can be found at www.gaagolf.ie