Dublin chairman Andy Kettle has bemoaned Kildare's decision to say no to a Friday night league fixture under lights at Croke Park.

In order to avoid a clash with Ireland's Six Nations encounter against France in the Aviva Stadium, GAA fixture-makers had mooted the idea of playing the game on Friday, March 8 but Kildare objected to that on the basis that is will pose logistical problems for their players.

The game will now be played on the Sunday.

"I thought it was an ideal opportunity to provide the Friday night. It is a fairly decent sporting weekend," Kettle told the Herald.

"It would give an opportunity to assess the warmth for it, how it would fit with supporters. I think supporters would react to it, people would be open to it.

"It's starting a weekend, no school the next day, quite a few work on Saturday. All that makes a difference."

Lilywhites chairman John McMahon explained their stance. "It was our home game and Friday night was never going to work for Kildare.

"There was no official request put to us for Friday night but that would have been our decision.

"Friday night, guys trying to get home from work. It's not just a matter of getting into the car and going up the road.

"If the throw-in is 7pm, fans have to be there for 6.55pm, but the players have to be there hours before that."

It is understood that Kildare received in the region of €60,000 to play their home league games with Donegal and Dublin at Croke Park. Tweet

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