Mayo gaa board seeks croke park compromise

 

FOLLOWING their victory over Kilkenny in the All-Ireland  junior football championship semi-final in O'Connor Park, Tullamore, on Saturday, the Mayo junior team is now set to meet Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

The venue for this final was expected to Ennis or Limerick. However, the date for the All-Ireland junior final has been fixed for Saturday, August 8, the same date as Mayo seniors are due to play their All-Ireland quarterfinal in Croke Park.

As far as the Mayo County Board is concerned playing two massive games on the same date at different venues is a no-go area. As a result they have asked the GAA authorities to look at the prospect of playing the junior All-Ireland final before the two senior quarterfinals in Croke Park on Saturday week.

Mayo County Board chairman Mike Connelly confirmed this to The Connaught Telegraph this evening (Sunday).

He said: “It would not be possible to play the junior and senior big games at different venues on Saturday week.

“We have asked Croke Park to look at bringing the junior final against Kerry to Croke Park on Saturday week and having a treple-header. It would seem to be common sense.

“Today (Sunday) in Simple Stadium in Thurles they had three games, one minor and two senior All-Ireland hurling quarterfinals. If they can hold three games down there on such a bad day there is no reason why  they can't do the same in Croke Park.

“Hopefully Croke Park will see the logic in having the All-Ireland junior final played in Croke Park. I am sure Kerry, like our own players, would like to see their junior team given the opportunity of playing in Croke Park.”