Mayo chiefs have asked GAA bosses at the Competition Controls’ Committee this week if they can play their game against Dublin in another venue that isn't Croke Park.
The SFC final round game in Group 2 is set for June 15/16, and Mayo has requested it be held at a venue less familiar to the All-Ireland champions. Dublin, who have played five of their nine games at Croke Park (soon to be six with their upcoming match against Roscommon), could face Mayo in a different venue like Dr. Hyde Park or the Gaelic Grounds, as Dublin played their neutral game against Sligo last year in Breffni Park, Cavan.
Rumours emerged this week that Mayo would be looking to play the game in a different venue then the capital, and these rumours became true.
Mayo chair Seamus Tuohy told his collegues at a Mayo County Board meeting that it was true that a request had been made not to play Dublin in Croke Park.
(Photo By Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile via Getty Images)“What we’ve asked for is that the game is not in Croke Park," he said
“We want a neutral venue. We have made representations, but that is as far as we can take it,” he said this week.
These comments come days after former Mayo footballer Lee Keegan also made the same point as Tuohy
“I hate the waffle that all players want to play in Croke Park, of course we do, but you’re playing Dublin who are so accustomed to Croke Park, why wouldn’t you want to bring them somewhere like Portlaoise or Tullamore?," said Keegan.
“I think that’d be a no brainer for the GAA. If we end up in the position where we’re going to Croke Park, you’re going to get a dead rubber in terms of crowd there and it just adds no value to the Championship. It makes it look like a tick-box exercise.
Times and locations for the games have not yet been set by the GAA.
