Kildare manager Cian O'Neill has described the GAA's decision to move his team's All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Mayo from Newbridge to Croke Park as "bewildering".
Kildare GAA released a statement this evening confirming that the team would not be fulfilling the fixture if it were to be played at HQ as they are unwilling to give up home advantage against last year's beaten All-Ireland finalists.
Speaking to RTE Sport this evening, O'Neill backed the boycott and spoke of his "shock" at the CCCC's decision to move the game out of St Conleth's Park.
"We were all ready for Newbridge at St Conleth's Park for Saturday evening at 7 o'clock," said O'Neill. "We're coming off the back of two tough journeys, up to Owenbeg in Derry then in Pearse Park in Longford at the weekend.
"To get a home qualifier for round three was a real positive for us, for the players in particular and most importantly for the fans, in terms of the travel they've had to undergo the last number of weeks.
"For that to be pulled from underneath your feet for no apparent reason, no reason I'm aware of that makes any logical sense, is bewildering."
He added: "We were drawn fairly and squarely, we were pulled out first. The rules clearly state that the first team drawn out has a home venue...and that's exactly where we're going to be on Saturday night.
"We'll be in St Conleth's Park, togged out, ready to go. That's our home venue. We earned it by winning the last two matches on the road and that's not going to be taken away from us."
TweetKildare manager Cian O'Neill tells RTÉ his players will be in Newbridge on Saturday evening, not Croke Park pic.twitter.com/2qxU3cqBKf
- RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) June 25, 2018